2nd out of 167 books
—
492 voters
The Iron Duke (Iron Seas #1)
by
Meljean Brook (Goodreads Author)
View our feature on Meljean Brook’s The Iron Duke.
First in an all-new series where seductive danger and steampunk adventure abound in the gritty world of the Iron Seas.
After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped...more
First in an all-new series where seductive danger and steampunk adventure abound in the gritty world of the Iron Seas.
After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
October 5th 2010
by Berkley Trade
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So, first off, this is drunk book review, so swearing and general incoherence is going to be an issue. If you want a more cogent review you should check out others, like Elizabeth's or Lightread's or Kat's. It's possible I'll make those into links, but not likely. We'll see.
The alternate history in this book is pretty amazing. So amazing that I I spent a lot of time ignoring the weird rape fantasy stuff that was going on in the foreground. I totally didn't intent to start talking about the rape...more
The alternate history in this book is pretty amazing. So amazing that I I spent a lot of time ignoring the weird rape fantasy stuff that was going on in the foreground. I totally didn't intent to start talking about the rape...more
This is the third novel I've read belabelled Steampunk and so far it is the best.
Unlike Clare's rendition of Clockwork Angel, Brook's The Iron Duke doesn't nervously flirt with Steampunk but wantonly embraces it like a Steampunk addict chasing after its next hit.
Similarly to Carriger's Soulless, The Iron Duke is heavy on romance though with far more satisfying love scenes and lacking in the supernatural, paranormal element.
No, Brook understands Steampunk and she executed it well, creating a worl...more
Unlike Clare's rendition of Clockwork Angel, Brook's The Iron Duke doesn't nervously flirt with Steampunk but wantonly embraces it like a Steampunk addict chasing after its next hit.
Similarly to Carriger's Soulless, The Iron Duke is heavy on romance though with far more satisfying love scenes and lacking in the supernatural, paranormal element.
No, Brook understands Steampunk and she executed it well, creating a worl...more
I won this ARC in a contest at Dear Author.
I have a confession to make... I was afraid to read this book. I have a serious love affair with this author's Guardian series. I mean, how many of my Goodreads friends did I nag into reading it lately? Five? I know they finally broke down and read it just to shut me up, but that's okay, because they loved it anyway and I got more people to talk about it with. So, I was afraid something would happen and I wouldn't be able to get into the new series and...more
I have a confession to make... I was afraid to read this book. I have a serious love affair with this author's Guardian series. I mean, how many of my Goodreads friends did I nag into reading it lately? Five? I know they finally broke down and read it just to shut me up, but that's okay, because they loved it anyway and I got more people to talk about it with. So, I was afraid something would happen and I wouldn't be able to get into the new series and...more
zombies. kraken. pirates. automatons. marriage reform. nanotech. mongols. just another classic steampunk romance, right? or maybe not - this is my first one.
it was crazy - none of the other bodice rippers wanted to read the shapeshifter romance!! come on guys!!shapeshifters!!! romance!!! i am so curious about the mechanics of it, but i am not going to read one without the protective cloak of the rest of the rippers.
so -steampunk...
i mean, honestly, there wasn't anything wrong with this book; i...more
it was crazy - none of the other bodice rippers wanted to read the shapeshifter romance!! come on guys!!shapeshifters!!! romance!!! i am so curious about the mechanics of it, but i am not going to read one without the protective cloak of the rest of the rippers.
so -steampunk...
i mean, honestly, there wasn't anything wrong with this book; i...more
May 23, 2012
AH
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
first-in-series,
historical,
zzxread-jan-2011,
romance,
steampunk,
zombies,
favorites,
won,
own,
signed-copy
Hordes! Buggers! Bounders! Frenzy, oh my!
What a world. It took a while for me to understand this extremely imaginative world, but I enjoyed every moment of this book.
The Iron Duke portrays an alternative history in a very different Europe. The Horde controls people through nanotechnology. People, especially those living in polluted London, are infected with these agents because they have healing properties. When certain radio frequencies are transmitted, the infected people, known as the Bugger...more
What a world. It took a while for me to understand this extremely imaginative world, but I enjoyed every moment of this book.
The Iron Duke portrays an alternative history in a very different Europe. The Horde controls people through nanotechnology. People, especially those living in polluted London, are infected with these agents because they have healing properties. When certain radio frequencies are transmitted, the infected people, known as the Bugger...more
All my life, I thought I liked pirates. I thought I found the romantic visions of them (stealing from the rich, burying treasure) appealing, as well as the more true-to-life accounts of the mutinies and murders. The romanticism of pirates, to me, made pirate romances seem romantic. But, as it turns out, pirate romances make me feel kind of ill.
Raping and pillaging is great when it is fictional and former never actually happens, but pirates in romances always have to stop themselves from raping....more
Raping and pillaging is great when it is fictional and former never actually happens, but pirates in romances always have to stop themselves from raping....more
Jan 25, 2011
Joel
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2011,
book-club,
feeling-randy-book-club,
clockworks,
sci-fi-fantasy,
squid-friendly,
kindle
Dear dad,
I know you follow and read my goodreads reviews, which I appreciate, really, but I just wanted to let you know that while this is a sci-fi/alternate history book that is pretty interesting in a lot of ways it is also a romance novel that I read for a book club and it has lots of VERY EXPLICIT sex parts that I might mention, explicitly, in this review. So it is ok if you don't want to read this one.
Sincerely, your son
The Iron Dukes sits at the intersection of everywhere and nowhere in...more
I know you follow and read my goodreads reviews, which I appreciate, really, but I just wanted to let you know that while this is a sci-fi/alternate history book that is pretty interesting in a lot of ways it is also a romance novel that I read for a book club and it has lots of VERY EXPLICIT sex parts that I might mention, explicitly, in this review. So it is ok if you don't want to read this one.
Sincerely, your son
The Iron Dukes sits at the intersection of everywhere and nowhere in...more
Oct 08, 2010
Ridley
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Lovers of sci fi, alternate history and steampunk.
A few hundred years before the novel opens, the Asian Horde took over much of the Western world with a mix of force and superior technology. Lacking any navy of merit, they had to be a bit creative in their attack on Britain, choosing to smuggle nanoagents into the cheap sugar and tea they exported to the island nation. As the people ate and drank, they unwittingly infected themselves with tiny bits of self-replicating machinery. While the "bugs" made people stronger, hastened healing and allowe...more
Mar 04, 2012
MISS VAIN
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Steampunk Romance lovers
Recommended to MISS VAIN by:
Cat Russell, Jamie
"You may continue to call me inspector,"
"And you may call me Rhys.""I won't."
"Even when I'm in your bed?"
Mina dropped her hand to her gun.
"I agree. That was too brazen." he leaned in toward her, taking up too much space she could hardly draw. Breath. "I should have said my bed, yes?"
Who knew Steampunk, Zombies, Kraken, a feisty detective and a brazenly golden earring wearing gorgeous pirate could make for such an exciting and sexy read? Well I sure didn't! I should have never waited so long...more
May 07, 2012
Anzu The Great Destroyer
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
paranormal and whatever romance fans
Why does Germany get to have a cool cover???

@our cover: Dude! Put a shirt on!
I really have a problem with these typical shirtless dude covers. Could you get shallower than that? Buy a book just ‘cause a hot dude is on the cover. Book porn, that’s what this is…
My first thoughts when starting the book were (in this exact order):
A life without sugar!!! The horrooor!!!!
Pirates *droools*
Tahaeram or whatever wtf is that name?? I can’t even remember it! Why didn’t they call him Bob? That would be easy...more

@our cover: Dude! Put a shirt on!
I really have a problem with these typical shirtless dude covers. Could you get shallower than that? Buy a book just ‘cause a hot dude is on the cover. Book porn, that’s what this is…
My first thoughts when starting the book were (in this exact order):
A life without sugar!!! The horrooor!!!!
Pirates *droools*
Tahaeram or whatever wtf is that name?? I can’t even remember it! Why didn’t they call him Bob? That would be easy...more
I haven't loved a (urban) fantasy/steampunk/sci-fi/alternate history book in months, maybe longer. I haven't even liked one! I was beginning to think that all this time on goodreads, with the great recommendations and the discussions of Big-Fucking-Deal-books was turning me into a book snob of the worst sort and I would never enjoy a well plotted, alternate-something-fantasy story again. I didn't even like the latest Bujold book!
But then, through a series of events that are entirely my fault, I...more
But then, through a series of events that are entirely my fault, I...more
Short review: this book rocked my world. Meljean has written a well-developed world with incredible steampunk technology and details, as well as characters and relationships that go beyond the surface. The only drawback to this book? There's not another ready for me to read RIGHT NOW!
Side note: it's not necessary to have read the novella Here There Be Monsters, which is in the anthology Burning Up, first, but you're going to want to read it after you read this book, just so you can revisit the...more
Side note: it's not necessary to have read the novella Here There Be Monsters, which is in the anthology Burning Up, first, but you're going to want to read it after you read this book, just so you can revisit the...more
What I do like about romance novels is the belief that hurt people get better. That, somehow, people can change with a little love. I love that people start off broken and in the end they may actually have all their pieces taped back together. The difference between that and the marriage plot is the latter suggests that the reason the people are broken is because they aren't married yet. The woman is fixed (or saved) by marriage there. Marriage, in this sense, is just a giant band-aid, and I, fo...more
This book rocks my socks.
Action. Adventure. Mystery. Humor. Romance. Sexytimes. Fiercely determined and protective hero. Smart, loyal and courageous heroine. Wonderful secondary characters. NIFTY GADGETS.
Seriously, this book has it all.
This was my first steampunk read, and I loved it for all of the wonderful things I mentioned above. I found myself at work, glancing at the clock and looking forward to getting home so I could finish this book. The first 5-10 pages kind of throw you right into the...more
Action. Adventure. Mystery. Humor. Romance. Sexytimes. Fiercely determined and protective hero. Smart, loyal and courageous heroine. Wonderful secondary characters. NIFTY GADGETS.
Seriously, this book has it all.
This was my first steampunk read, and I loved it for all of the wonderful things I mentioned above. I found myself at work, glancing at the clock and looking forward to getting home so I could finish this book. The first 5-10 pages kind of throw you right into the...more
This book amazed me. I was reading an anthology called Burning Up and in it was a story called Here There Be Monsters and wow, did that writing rock my socks! I was a bit confused on a few points, but was so wow'd by the world and the characters that I immediately read The Iron Duke.
The world-building is complex, and intricate, and really really interesting. I think that the characters were really well-done, and I loved their romance. There was one scene where my eyebrows shot up, but I think it...more
The world-building is complex, and intricate, and really really interesting. I think that the characters were really well-done, and I loved their romance. There was one scene where my eyebrows shot up, but I think it...more
I enjoyed this a lot, yet I still don’t feel like I really get steampunk. The worldbuilding seems largely based on “this is wicked cool and/or scary” rather than on a logical chain of events. I never did get how, in this obviously very sexist world, women get to be on the police force.
The book’s biggest strength is its heroine. Mina is brave, determined, caring, yet also vulnerable -- everything you would want in a cop, or a heroine. I found myself just a bit disappointed in Rhys, a fairly stand...more
The book’s biggest strength is its heroine. Mina is brave, determined, caring, yet also vulnerable -- everything you would want in a cop, or a heroine. I found myself just a bit disappointed in Rhys, a fairly stand...more
I have never done steampunk before and I don’t know if I will ever go back there again, it seemed a bit grimey.
No not that “Grimey”
More like this

With all the pollution, dirt and I did not quite get the rules of fashion either. Do the ladies wear pants or gowns? Is Mina a rule breaker for wearing pants ??? Did everything have ruffles?
Anyways there were zombies, airships/balloons and Krakens why the Hell am I asking about ruffles?? These components make for a very interesting and exciting ro...more
No not that “Grimey” More like this

With all the pollution, dirt and I did not quite get the rules of fashion either. Do the ladies wear pants or gowns? Is Mina a rule breaker for wearing pants ??? Did everything have ruffles?
Anyways there were zombies, airships/balloons and Krakens why the Hell am I asking about ruffles?? These components make for a very interesting and exciting ro...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Re-read 3/11 - Same reaction this re-read. I love the book, but the ending left me wanting more (and not necessarily in a good way). Cripes, is the next book out YET?
______________
Re-read 9/10 - I decided to do a quick skim-through of this novel before writing a full review for it, and ended up re-reading cover-to-cover. It was even better the second time.
I was more disappointed in the ending this time around. I think because I wasn't ready for the story to end. I wanted more; More Mina and Rh...more
______________
Re-read 9/10 - I decided to do a quick skim-through of this novel before writing a full review for it, and ended up re-reading cover-to-cover. It was even better the second time.
I was more disappointed in the ending this time around. I think because I wasn't ready for the story to end. I wanted more; More Mina and Rh...more
Oct 14, 2010
Alisha
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
romance fans who like multi-setting adventure. oh, and those that don't mind zombies. ^_^
Shelves:
favorites
Initial reaction: This book was exquisite. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. :o)
All I want to know is, what kind of peyote was this woman smoking when she dreamt up this amazing world? ^__^ It is proving exceedingly difficult for me to adequately express what it is about this book that makes me love it so. In fact, I can almost guarantee I won't be pleased with this review. ^_^ But I'll make mention of a couple thoughts in broad strokes.
...beginning with the world. Brooks' world(building) was...more
All I want to know is, what kind of peyote was this woman smoking when she dreamt up this amazing world? ^__^ It is proving exceedingly difficult for me to adequately express what it is about this book that makes me love it so. In fact, I can almost guarantee I won't be pleased with this review. ^_^ But I'll make mention of a couple thoughts in broad strokes.
...beginning with the world. Brooks' world(building) was...more
I enjoyed it a LOT, just one thing brought it down from 5 stars, which I will specify at the end. (BTW Has VERY racy scenes as a warning to the non-smutty lovers, but that wasn't my -1 star point haha)
I would give worldbuilding: 5 stars. The first chapter is a bit confusing, but the world that is spun out over the novel is ENDLESSLY interesting, one of the few books that has made me read SLOWLY to see what all the steampunk stuff really is about. FASCINATING history with the Horde and the nanobu...more
I would give worldbuilding: 5 stars. The first chapter is a bit confusing, but the world that is spun out over the novel is ENDLESSLY interesting, one of the few books that has made me read SLOWLY to see what all the steampunk stuff really is about. FASCINATING history with the Horde and the nanobu...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
4.5
What a wonderful start to a very rich and multi-layered new steampunk world! The book read like an urban fantasy story for the first half of the book, setting up the world and the lore and the alternative history. The second half of the book was full of action, adventure, swash buckling, air shipping, automata using, bad guy beating, all obstacle over coming romance.
At first the hero was difficult to like, but as the world filled out and my connection with the society, which was healing from...more
What a wonderful start to a very rich and multi-layered new steampunk world! The book read like an urban fantasy story for the first half of the book, setting up the world and the lore and the alternative history. The second half of the book was full of action, adventure, swash buckling, air shipping, automata using, bad guy beating, all obstacle over coming romance.
At first the hero was difficult to like, but as the world filled out and my connection with the society, which was healing from...more
Based on Abigail's advice, I started with the anthology Burning Up. Meljean's contribution, my first experience in the world of the Horde, was immediately riveting. The Iron Duke itself is a meaty, satisfying book that I couldn't put down. Brook does a phenomenal job developing both the world and her characters. While I know it will be awhile before readers have an opportunity to pick up another in this series, I look forwared to filling the time between now and then recommending this book to ot...more
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
I was not prepared for this book.
My expectation for a steampunk romance was based on The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. Those books are light-hearted fun, filled with kooky inventions and a no-nonsense heroine. The steampunk part of Carriger's world provides an entertaining and funky backdrop for the story. The humor is very tongue-in-cheek, right up my alley.
The Iron Duke couldn't be more different. While Carriger's world is political, it's also quit...more
I was not prepared for this book.
My expectation for a steampunk romance was based on The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. Those books are light-hearted fun, filled with kooky inventions and a no-nonsense heroine. The steampunk part of Carriger's world provides an entertaining and funky backdrop for the story. The humor is very tongue-in-cheek, right up my alley.
The Iron Duke couldn't be more different. While Carriger's world is political, it's also quit...more
Jan 13, 2011
Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
steampunk and fantasy romance fans
Shelves:
steampunk,
robot-cyborg-artificial-enhanced-hu,
paranormal-romance,
science-fiction-romance,
zombie,
owned-copy,
dhasg-january-2011-read,
uf-winter-challenge-2011,
favorites,
hero-to-die-for,
scary-sexy-cool-dangerous-hero,
heroine-i-adore,
kickbutt-heroine,
neovictorian,
police-federal-agent-law-enforcemen,
pirate,
possessive-and-or-jealous-hero,
hero-in-pursuit,
prejudice,
character-multi-ethnic-heritage,
asian-hero-or-heroine,
interracial-romance,
enslaved,
abused,
tough-as-nails-heroes,
alternate-history,
detective-private-eye-sleuth,
hot-and-steamy-romance,
irish-welsh-or-celtic-hero,
2011-reading,
irr-challenge-1-2011
I have to hand it to Meljean Brook. She created a wonderfully-detailed and fantastical world in this book. If a reader is wondering what 'steampunk' is, I will definitely point them towards this book. I was very impressed how she integrated nanotechnology into her world-building, and the nanotech fit very well in this universe. There are some aspects that seem rather dystopian, despite the fact that this is a Victorian-like setting. The use of robotic technology has some great applications, but...more
My review of The Iron Duke won’t do enough of justice. The entire time I read, my jaw was dropped in amazement. The Iron Duke has wowed me in some many ways. Meljean Brook is an author I’m loyal to, through and through. It’s a great feeling to have started with an author since the beginning of their writing career and watch them evolve and continue to astound with every single book they’ve written. The Iron Duke is mind-blowing in such a way that it may just turn the romance genre on its ear, in...more
Review to follow but I have to say one thing.
This is the book, this is the series, that is going to make Meljean Brook a superstar.
This is the book, this is the series, that is going to make Meljean Brook a superstar.
I'm going to give this book more stars than it deserves, probably because mostly i thought I was going to completely hate it and I didn't, plus it lead me to want to ignore a new genre, but more on that later.
Weird things people get to learn about me that relate to this book:
1. I'm a prude
Yes, yes I know, I'm a prude who has read a large portion of the french erotica writers, has a good knowledge of the early history of pornography (70s-80s my knowledge ends before I was born), and has no prob...more
Weird things people get to learn about me that relate to this book:
1. I'm a prude
Yes, yes I know, I'm a prude who has read a large portion of the french erotica writers, has a good knowledge of the early history of pornography (70s-80s my knowledge ends before I was born), and has no prob...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaginal Fantasy H...: * VF04: The Iron Duke Discussion | 29 | 371 | Aug 29, 2012 06:09am | |
| Vaginal Fantasy H...: Not my normal genre | 10 | 129 | Jun 08, 2012 06:01am | |
| Diários Steampunk: Episódio 2 - The Iron Duke | 7 | 11 | Jun 06, 2012 08:13am | |
| Diários Steampunk: The Iron Duke | 12 | 26 | Jun 04, 2012 09:12am |
Book info: I am the author of the Iron Seas steampunk romance series. I've written a guide to the world (including a map) on my website.
I also write a paranormal romance series, the Guardians. That series guide is also on my website, including a "The Story So Far" feature, which allows you to catch up on all of the books that previously released in the series if you start after the first installm...more
More about Meljean Brook...
I also write a paranormal romance series, the Guardians. That series guide is also on my website, including a "The Story So Far" feature, which allows you to catch up on all of the books that previously released in the series if you start after the first installm...more
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2 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
“He cupped her face in his hands, made her meet his gaze. Solemnly, he said, “I heard you say that when two people love each other, they fight through everything together. Every doubt, every challenge, every pain. Fight with me, Mina. Please. You are the only one for me, for as long as I live. And if you love me, fight with me.”
—
35 people liked it
“Aghast, Yasmeen gaped at her before looking to the duke. "It's worse than I thought. Not just the Horde, not just the police- you're keeping company with someone who has principles.”
—
30 people liked it
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Feb 18, 2013 10:49am
updated Feb 18, 2013 12:30pm