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Oct 30, 2011

Catherine rated it:

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 t More...

41 comments like (36 people liked it)

Jan 18, 2011

karen rated it:

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 was More...

60 comments like (49 people liked it)

Jan 27, 2011

Caris rated it:

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 fro More...

52 comments like (28 people liked it)

Jan 25, 2011

Joel rated it:

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 inters More...

41 comments like (43 people liked it)

Oct 08, 2010

Ridley rated it:

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 More...

11 comments like (23 people liked it)

Jan 06, 2011

Elizabeth rated it:

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 More...

66 comments like (44 people liked it)

Aug 18, 2011

Angela rated it:

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 re More...

0 comments like (8 people liked it)

Feb 03, 2012

Audrey rated it:

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 ki More...

7 comments like (7 people liked it)

Oct 21, 2011

willaful rated it:

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, More...

5 comments like (9 people liked it)

Dec 24, 2011

Honeywell rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (6 people liked it)

Mar 22, 2011

Holly rated it:

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 More...

2 comments like (6 people liked it)

Oct 14, 2010

Alisha rated it:

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. Bro More...

35 comments like (22 people liked it)

Oct 27, 2010

Felicia rated it:

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 More...

4 comments like (22 people liked it)

Dec 07, 2011

Jill rated it:

Audio was amazeballs. It took me a little time to get used to the narrator's accent, because she speaks very fast, and I am very Southern. But I loved it and was so sad when it ended. The audio was stellar. Just stellar.

10 comments like (6 people liked it)

Feb 25, 2011

Veronica rated it:

I will readily admit that I only read this because it was recommended by my number one girl crush. Well, damn close to number one. Definitely in my top five! I had never even heard of steampunk until this gorgeous and insanely talented young woman mentioned it to me a few months ago and, yep, I had to wiki that shit. Having done that, I figured that it was a genre that would probably appeal more to by husband than to me and I was willing to continue living in my state of ignorant bliss in regard More...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Nov 24, 2011

Suz rated it:

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, w More...

4 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jan 12, 2011

Penny rated it:

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' More...

8 comments like (17 people liked it)

Jan 13, 2011

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" rated it:

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, b More...

68 comments like (52 people liked it)

Oct 01, 2010

Katie(babs) rated it:

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...

5 comments like (19 people liked it)

Sep 28, 2011

Julia rated it:

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 t More...

4 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jan 24, 2011

Jasmine rated it:

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 bef More...

9 comments like (12 people liked it)

Oct 05, 2010

Mandi rated it:

Reviewed by Mandi and Tori

Two hundred years ago, The Horde hid nanoagents inside tea and sugar, and traded these goods with England. No one thought of anything – until the Horde activated the bugs. Using radio signals, the Horde was able to control everyone infected with these bugs – control their emotions and actions– their lust, anger, everything.

But a pirate by the name of Rhys Trahaearn had some tricks up his sleeve and took down the Horde by blowing up their signal t More...

7 comments like (8 people liked it)

Nov 04, 2011

Melanie rated it:

4.5 stars

Meljean Brook's 'The Iron Duke' was gritty, creepy, sexy and.... really good! I haven't read many steampunk novels, but the ones I have managed to both simultaneously freak me out and fascinate me - this book was no different. Weird contraptions, funky nanoagents, highly advanced prosthetics, flesh-eating zombies, and engineered sea creatures all abound in a Victorianesque setting; there's no denying that Brook's 'Iron Seas' world is highly imaginative, but she also delivers More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 18, 2012

Chani rated it:

I really was disenchanted with this novel. I was expecting an awesome thrilling adventure. What I got was bogged down with paragraphs of useless information and an overpowering male. First off, I am not against lots of words or descriptions, but if you are going to write a lot, write something full of details and colorful. I had a very big issue with the author's writing style from page 2 (I should have listened to my inner voice that said, nope, not good, put it down); it was flat and boring. I More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jun 27, 2011

D.G. ~Shameless Hussy~ rated it:

This is a disappointed 3-star rating.

I loved the prequel and had great expectations for this book. I was dying to learn more about this world that Ms. Brooks put together but instead I found plot holes the size of krakens.

I didn’t expect to learn everything but at least I wanted more background on the Horde, specially why they kept the ‘buggers’ in England. Once I realized the extent of their technology – they could implant nanoagents that could control people, for God’s More...

10 comments like (4 people liked it)

Nov 10, 2011

Jan rated it:

Last time around, I didn't find time to write a proper review, but this time I'm going to write down my thoughts. I was only looking for a particular scene to answer a question of a friend, then got sidetracked and read a bit, and decided to reread it in the end, because it had mesmerized me all over again.

This book pushes all my buttons, and it pushes them hard. Besides Romance novels, Sci-fi and fantasy books are my favorite way to escape reality. This book is such a perfect blend o More...

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jan 30, 2011

Lady Heather rated it:

WOW! what a wonderful surprise! A friend of mine gave me this e-book to read, just on the recommendation that it would be a good romance. Well it is certainly more than that! This book is a combination of science fiction and historical/historical romance. I didn't really get the 'rhythm' of the author's writing until about page 50 (just trying to figure out what the story was all about).
What I found difficult to follow at the beginning of the story was the mechanisms, prosthetic`s, and More...

3 comments like (4 people liked it)

Feb 06, 2012

Ariana rated it:

I don't even know how to start. A bit confusing to begin with, Brook throws us in the deep end and it's either sink or swim. The book itself swims like a champion; the storyline and setting is captivating, the world building keeps you hooked, Mina is brave and fierce without being a bitch and wears both dresses and trousers, and while Rhys took a bit to get used to in the beginning, he's a definate keeper to be sure.

I'd even go so far as to admit that I got the book from my libra More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Sep 09, 2010

Jane rated it:

This is one of those books that could launch an entire sub genre. Brook melds together fantasy, a little science fiction, action and romance to bring to us a true steampunk entry into the romance genre.

While not explicitly stated, The Iron Duke is set in an alternate Victorian London. The Americas exist as a place where wealthy Europeans fled when the Horde invaded about 200 years ago. The Horde was an Asiatic society that conquered the West, England in particular, by releasing More...

8 comments like (9 people liked it)

Oct 06, 2010

Melindeeloo rated it:

Adventure, mystery, pirates in the air and on the sea, zombies, wonderful characters and weird steampunk technology - there is so much going on in the Iron Duke that there is no way a simple plot summary could possibly do this book justice.

The Iron Seas world that Brook's has created is fascinating - an alternate Victorian/Regency society which is still struggling to recover from years of enslavement by Mongol invaders. A familiar-yet-not world in which some of the conventional valu More...

1 comment like (3 people liked it)