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Heart of Iron

(London Steampunk #2)

Bec McMaster (Goodreads Author)

3.98 · Rating details · 4,744 ratings · 481 reviews

In Victorian London, if you’re not a blue blood of the Echelon then you’re nothing at all. The Great Houses rule the city with an iron fist, imposing their strict ‘blood taxes’ on the nation, and the Queen is merely a puppet on a string…

Lena Todd makes the perfect spy. Nobody suspects the flirtatious debutante could be a sympathizer for the humanist movement haunting Londo ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 437 pages

Published May 7th 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

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Steampunk/Romance

313 books — 906 voters

2013 Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy (January - June)

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· 4,744 ratings · 481 reviews

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Apr 11, 2013 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-pnr-sci-fi-romance, 2013-4-5-5-stars

4.5 stars

When Lena Todd left Whitechapel a year ago, she wanted her independence. And to put distance between herself and Will Carver, her brother-in-law's bodyguard. As an apprentice at Mandeville's Clockwork Emporium, Lena acts as a go-between and spy for the humanists. Her ability to enter into Echelon society, allows her to gather intelligence against the ruling blue bloods.

Will Carver, infected at five years of age by the loupe virus, caged and exhibited for the next ten years, owes his lif ...more

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Sep 19, 2018 Roobie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-challenge, historical-fiction-or-steampunk, paranormal, part-of-series, romance, series-i-love

⭐4 stars⭐

Maybe you're right. Maybe I am lettin' others dictate how I see meself.
But for all your brave words, so do you.

...more

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Feb 22, 2018 Stacey is Sassy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, romance-package-audible-original, steampunk, the-good-guy-hero, there-will-be-blood, para-fantasy-series

There's so much going on...

Like the first book in this series, I found it a bit overwhelming trying to keep up. I think it was probably even worse listening instead of reading. Lots of different characters to meet or see again, world-building and trying to picture the scenes. Saying that, I really like the fast paced, heart pounding and exciting storyline. The characters are interesting, the world building riveting and the connection between all the characters is easy to "see".

It's a bit like a ...more

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Jun 24, 2018 Melanie A. rated it really liked it

Shelves: library

4 STARS!

Will was the most dangerous man he'd ever met, but his protective instincts overrode his violent ones. A wolf to his core.

YAY! This PNR steampunk world Bec McMaster has created is so addictive; I'm loving it!

The story continues with Honoria's sister, Lena, and Blade's right-hand man, Will, who've been dancing around each other for the last three years.

Will, who was infected with the loupe virus as a child and spent most of his life locked in a cage, is still struggling years later 4 STARS!

Will was the most dangerous man he'd ever met, but his protective instincts overrode his violent ones. A wolf to his core.

He owed Blade the world, but a part of him chafed at the constrictiveness of his life, something hungry and yearning lurked inside his heart and he didn't know what it was or how to fix it.

Lena, who's always lived in her older sister's shadow, is also searching for her place in the world.

For all her hatred of the Echelon, she'd conformed to their rules. She'd let them define who she was. What she thought. What she dared to do. Her very own cage.

I loved how the author was able to draw parallels between these two very different characters, a 'violent' verwulfen and a human debutante. And the way they were brought together, amid a fast-moving plot that was full of PNR goodness...

He glanced away in order to hide his eyes from the newcomers and give himself a chance to leash the beast inside him. It rode close to the surface of his skin today.

...romance...

Every emotion, every hope, dream, and despair she thought she'd kept hidden from him was betrayed by her scent.

... and humor...

Will shot her a dark look. "I ain't gonna mince around like one of them puff-shirted vultures."

...made for some fabulously entertaining reading.

To me, this series feels a lot like a combination of two other series I'm reading right now: Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter and Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane. Though not quite on par with those two writers, I find that while Hoyt and Singh leave me feeling a bit drained and needing a break, McMasters leaves me feeling energized and immediately ready for more. She has a 'light' touch that I really enjoy...

Book 3 here I come! ...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Annie (Under the Covers Book Blog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, author-bec-mcmaster, books-i-go-rabid-over, covers-to-covet, drinks-on-me, fae, ebooks, for-fresh-fiction-review, genre-historical-romance, steampunk

Bec McMaster has a unique way of luring readers in. The worldbuiling is phenomenal, the kind that is only limited by the boundaries of the imagination. McMaster continues to step over that line and creates a vastly unique and utterly vivid world that transports readers into another place. Blending together steampunk elements in a traditional historical setting is the soil in which McMaster uses to grow and bloom wonderful surprises for her readers.

Not a surprise is the brooding, mysterious Will ...more

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May 04, 2015 Bj rated it really liked it

Shelves: library-loan, audible-tantor-downpour-library, audiobooks, arc, 2016, 4-stars, steampunk

4 "Verwolfen" Stars for the story and narration!

This is my third dalliance with steampunk romance and I'm still loving the hybrid between a historical, paranormal and a science-fiction romance in an alternate version of the 19th Century British Victorian era. Steampunk romance combines many of my favorite romance sub-genres which keeps me thoroughly entertained with both the world building and the dynamic characters. Moreover, in Heart of Iron, we get a look at a new type of paranormal being, th 4 "Verwolfen" Stars for the story and narration!

This is my third dalliance with steampunk romance and I'm still loving the hybrid between a historical, paranormal and a science-fiction romance in an alternate version of the 19th Century British Victorian era. Steampunk romance combines many of my favorite romance sub-genres which keeps me thoroughly entertained with both the world building and the dynamic characters. Moreover, in Heart of Iron, we get a look at a new type of paranormal being, the verwolfen (which appears to be something of a mix between a werewolf and a highlander/berserker with unnatural brute strength).

Please note though that this series should be read in order, as the underlying world continues to evolve over each sequential read. That said, the romance is completely contained within this book, so from a romance perspective it could be read as a stand-alone, though for maximum enjoyment of the political arc that spans the series, I suggest that you read or listen to Kiss of Steel first.

Lena Todd, the heroine of this story, is the sister of Honoria, the heroine of the first book. Lena, a human and the younger of the two sisters, has left the home of Honoria and Blade, fleeing what she believes is unrequited love for Will Carver, Blade's best friend and right-hand man.

Instead, Lena takes residence with her half-brother, Leo Barrons (though the Echelon does not know this secret connection), where she becomes a debutante looking for a thrall contract--(a Blueblood protector who provides sanctuary in exchange for blood). But looks can be deceiving and Lena's interests in the Blue Bloods and the Echelon has a more clandestine rationale as well--she's a humanist (a revolutionary group that wants to overthrow the rule of the BlueBloods) and has agreed to enlist her services to help their cause.

However, Will is definitely not immune to Lena's charms. It's just that as a verwulfen he has the loupe--a contagious disease--which means he will never be able to consummate his desires for Lena without potentially turning her into a verwulfen (the transformation of which is extremely painful and many humans never survive the transition).

However, when Will is given an opportunity to free other verwulfen's like himself (verwulfen's were typically taken as slaves and used for fight to death style MMA entertainment by the Bluebloods), by working with the Bluebloods, Will is reunited with the woman he could never forget. And when he learns of her secret political intentions, never mind a nefarious Blueblood who has his sights on making Lena his, Will determines to make sure Lena is safe, no matter the cost. But can there possibly be a happy future for a human and verwulfen?

Alison Larkin provides an adept narration for the large cast in Heart of Iron. While I have to say that Ms. Larkin's choice for the various characters may not be my absolute favorite, she does do the story justice. In that regard, Ms. Larkin provides an appropriately accented voice for these British characters, from the high society Bluebloods, like Leo Barrons, to the lower class, rookeries' residing members, which include Will and Blade, providing authenticity to the story that Ms. McMaster pens and providing the ability to differentiate between the classes by just Ms. Larkin's voice.

Ms. Larkin also does a good job at pacing her delivery for easy understanding and heightening of the effect of the various action and suspense scenes.

All in all, Heart of Iron advances the suspense arc of the London Steampunk series and provides a heart-felt story. Being a fan of the underdog, I particularly was sympathetic to Will's difficult lot in life, and was rooting for him to get his HEA. Now I can't wait to continue on with book 3 in this series, My Lady Quicksilver.

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
...more

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Jul 05, 2016 Dawn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: virgin-heros, sci-fi-romance, paranormal-romance, historical-romance, both-mcs-virgins, fantasy-romance, steampunk, tormented-hero, safe-for-me, heros-i-love

++Spoilers++ (UPDATED REVIEW IN CAPS)

4.5 stars

My one regret is not reading this in order. I plan to go back now and read the first. (YOUN DON'T NEED TO READ THE FIRST, AND IT IS NOT AS GOOD AS THIS ONE..I'D SAY SKIP #1)

This can be a stand alone, but I felt like I missed out on alot by reading this one first. (IT IS PERFECT AS A STAND ALONE. READING THE FIRST GIVES LITTLE MORE INSIGHT)

I am so impressed with this book that I plan on reading all of the books in this series regardless of triggers. T ...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Mara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: pnr, steampunk

I side with those who didn't fall hard for this book. I have loved London Steampunk 1 (to the point of actually buying it also on paper). But this sequel has nothing of the original, except the world. Which I admit is great, and the reason the book still gets 3 stars.

The main couple are a bunch of teenegers.Lena seems a spoilt brat and has the intelligence of one too. Will, well, what about him. I liked him more than her. But given I disliked her for most of the book, there's not much to this st ...more

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Apr 17, 2015 -ya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ufhfdysmythscifipnr

3.5-stars
I enjoyed Bec McMaster’s debut novel Kiss of Steel. Set in the rookeries of London, the author built an interesting world that captured the feel of Victorian era. In Heart of Iron, the storyline is more about the geopolitical conflict, and humanist revolution. While both MCs are likable, I find the plot of Lena’s involvement in the conflict between humanists revolution and Echelon rather weak, and some of Lena's decisions seem a bit obtuse. Will is a classic tortured hero with broken ba ...more

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Oct 01, 2017 Ursula rated it really liked it

Shelves: steam-punk, angsty-goodness, fabulous-hero, independent-woman, sexy-hero, super-sexual-tension, virgin-heroine, virgin-hero

Whew! What a ride! This lady can write- and she got me hooked.

This was a great read: exciting story, fascinating world created and intriguing characters. If you like steam punk or fantasy with a solid romance thrown in, then you will enjoy this.
I have not read a lot of steam punk because the whole machine thing has never really interested me overmuch, but I have read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi so thought I would give this one a whirl after a couple of GR friends talked about this series.

It is Whew! What a ride! This lady can write- and she got me hooked.

This was a great read: exciting story, fascinating world created and intriguing characters. If you like steam punk or fantasy with a solid romance thrown in, then you will enjoy this.
I have not read a lot of steam punk because the whole machine thing has never really interested me overmuch, but I have read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi so thought I would give this one a whirl after a couple of GR friends talked about this series.

It is a curious mix of vampire, werewolf, partly mechanised humans and full humans all trying to survive in a steam punk version of late Regency/early Victorian London. I am not a vampire fan- Twilight just made me roll my eyes in between laughing- and although I enjoyed movies like Van Helsing and Underworld, it was more for the kick-arse heroine (and Hugh Jackman *sigh*). At least here the vampires are not truly the Undead so much as infected with a virus that has them craving blood. They are still horrible. And the Ruling Class in this version of London. So I wanted them all to die :)

Our heroine, Lena, is human and our hero, Will, is a werewolf. That is, he is infected with the loupe virus, meaning he has enhanced senses and strength together with a berserker kind of temper. They are very sweet and tortured by the raging desire and love for each other that can never be fulfilled. Lena was a bit impulsive at times but I kept remembering that she was only 20. I made a lot of mistakes at 20, too. And she does learn and get better! Will is just wonderful. What a hero!

Anyways, all I can say is it was a thoroughly fun ride and I found myself well and truly immersed in this world. I have not read the first book (and don't feel I need to now) but am probably going to the read the third because it has aroused my curiosity, even though I don't know if I will like the MCs so much.
But I have a raging need to see the Echelon destroyed and those Blue-Bloods vanquished- maybe I have the loupe virus too :) ...more

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Feb 01, 2018 alicat ♡➹♡ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal_romance, vampires, shifters, audio, cool_chicks, dark_past, get_it_gurl

Wow, this book was great! Will and Lena were decent in the last book but the were both immature - I was really pleased to see this book was set three years later.

Lena was a great heroine, out to do whatever she can to help not only herself but her family and others in her restricted circumstances. She's had a huge crush on Will since she met him and hid her feelings behind silly flirtations. She lives with her half-brother (the relationship is a secret to society) and has become a spy for the hu ...more

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Aug 31, 2015 Lonna | FLYLēF rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015-challenge

Original Post: Heart of Iron (London Steampunk 2) at FLYLeF (www.flylef.com)

TANTALIZINGLY SEXY WITH a degree of danger, Heart of Iron (London Steampunk 2), by Bec McMaster, skillfully blends steampunk and paranormal romance into a captivating and entertaining adventure.

Helena Todd – or Lena – appears to be a flirtatious debutante mingling in London’s dangerous blue blood elite world – the Echelon. Nobody suspects her of being a sympathizer for the humanist organization determined to destroy th FLYLeF Book Reviews

Original Post: Heart of Iron (London Steampunk 2) at FLYLēF (www.flylef.com)

TANTALIZINGLY SEXY WITH a degree of danger, Heart of Iron (London Steampunk 2), by Bec McMaster, skillfully blends steampunk and paranormal romance into a captivating and entertaining adventure.

Helena Todd – or Lena – appears to be a flirtatious debutante mingling in London’s dangerous blue blood elite world – the Echelon. Nobody suspects her of being a sympathizer for the humanist organization determined to destroy the Echelon, making her the perfect spy.

Will Carver, “The Beast,” is ruthless and deadly. Fiercely loyal, Will’s priority is to keep Whitechapel safe from the Echelon. When the beautiful Lena visits Whitechapel, Will accidentally uncovers a cryptic message on her very similar to the one he pulled from a rebel suspect. He realizes she’s in danger. Stubborn as she is beautiful, Will must learn that the way to gain Lena’s trust is not through brutish demands but a game of seduction – a game he is determined to win.

I like Heart of Iron even more than Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk 1) because I connected with Lena and Will better. I appreciate their imperfection and enjoy their growth. Lena is initially introduced as a slightly immature, young lady with a grudge against Will for an unreturned kiss some years ago. And Will is a werewulfen easily driven beyond reason. But as the story unfolds, Ms. McMaster grooms Will into a hero of ages and matures Lena with a “heart of iron.”

Will and Lena’s romance was very sensual and tasteful. On the surface, both are constantly at odds with one another. The tension is pleasant with a bit of give and take. I didn’t feel like I wanted to strangle them for their insufferable blindness to the other’s true intentions. When a key event puts Lena’s life in danger, the walls they resurrected around their hearts come crashing down and they finally succumbed to their true feelings for one another. Their story becomes immensely better as their dialogue becomes more honest. Their flirtatious conversations were sweet with a touch of humor. It will no doubt appeal to romance fans as their happiness is very infectious and dare I say…cute? Yes!

Though I’m happy to see Will and Lena at peace, a far greater threat is brewing in the streets of London as vampires, werewolves, humanists, and a clockwork army are on the verge of a battle. I look forward to finding out what happens next in My Lady Quicksilver (London Steampunk 3). ...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Fathima rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-to-die-for, cover-love, hot-heavy, must-read, my-fav-author, my-fav-series, my-my-its-a-steampunk, ultimate-book-bad-boyfriend, woohoo-cover, i-think-i-m-in-love

Will kissed her lips lightly, chasing away the questioning tone. “You know I love you,” he said. Her body quivered against his, but he pressed a finger to her lips, stalling her. “I would die for you,” he told her. “I’d kill for you. I faced down mechanical squid, rampagin’ humanists, and lessons in etiquette for you. I danced at a ball for you.”

Bec McMaster does it again !!!

photo i_love_steampunk_by_catherinetterings-d51wuio_zps3bbfbeb8.jpg

Heart Of Iron is a perfect mix of action , romance and steampunk !!! I love the London Bec has created in this series ...more

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Oct 16, 2018 Jennymort ♔ Dark Lordette marked it as to-read

Shelves: buddy-read-2018, own

buddy read with my babe

can't wait to get this one from the library!

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Oct 19, 2017 Simply Sam ツ rated it really liked it

Shelves: parasupernormal, lords-and-ladies, historical-ish

Well, she did it again guys. Ms. McMaster just keeps adding to the fun of her London Steampunk series. This story follows Lena and Will's "wrong side of the track" love story. You're introduced to them in Book 1, as Lena is the sister to the female protag and Will is the right-hand-manboy of the male lead. This story takes place 3 years after the first book, plenty of time for that initial interaction and attraction to simmer and brew.

Will is a gruff and surly verwulfen (view spoiler) Well, she did it again guys. Ms. McMaster just keeps adding to the fun of her London Steampunk series. This story follows Lena and Will's "wrong side of the track" love story. You're introduced to them in Book 1, as Lena is the sister to the female protag and Will is the right-hand-manboy of the male lead. This story takes place 3 years after the first book, plenty of time for that initial interaction and attraction to simmer and brew.

Will is a gruff and surly verwulfen (view spoiler) who prowls the streets, or rooftops rather, of the Whitechapel rookery, cracking heads and maintaining order for the blueblood Blade (who is techinically a rogue-- an unauthorized blueblood, hence an outcast and not a true member of the aristocracy). This is the seedy district, the underbelly if you will, where society's rougher lot make their home. Blade is the de facto peacekeeper and protector of the area, and Will is the muscly man, er, verwulfen, at his side. Lena, a human, has left that chapter of her life behind and has now resumed her pampered lifestyle with the Echelon, hoping to land a wealthy blueblood protector. At least that's what Will believes. He hoped never to see Lena again, to let her live out her fancy life with her fancy dresses and fancy balls, but of course fate didn't get the memo, and even if she did she didn't give a flying flip what Will claims to have wanted. Fate does what fate will. So, naturally the two of them are thrust into a dicey situation together involving the blueblood aristocracy, a sect of humanists and mechs who want to at last have equal rights, and a tribe of verwulfen with which the blueblood aristocracy hope to finally ally with. All this political intrigue. Oh my! Not to mention those heated stares and illicit touches....

There's a lot of forbidden desire and angsty "I want to but I can't, but I need to, but I won't, but I can't help myself, but I really shouldn't" going on in this one. But Ms. McMaster has a way of sucking you in, and the world she has created is really pretty cool and interesting. I've read the first two books in the spin-off series (I know, I started bass akwards) and I love how she's developed and intertwined all of these characters. It's been a great hook and one that's going to keep me coming back for more.

Keep doing what you're doing and I'm going to keep reading the heck out of these books! ...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: genre-steam-punk, best-of-the-best-2013, hero-hot-male-in-my-harem, faves-kings-of-the-harem, lover-the-cover, hero-mad-bad-and-dangerous-to-know, netgalley-arc, shifters, hero-virgin-or-inexperienced, va-va-voom-vampires

Lena Todd knows she is prey in a den of predators, something that becomes more apparent the longer she moves through the Echelon's world as a debutante; however, she is also a perfect spy, what Blueblood would expect the supposedly empty headed and flirtatious Lena of working for the Humanists? But it soon it becomes hard to see who is friend and who is foe, and the only time she ever feels safe is when she is around Will Carver a Verwulfen who she has had a tendre for since first laying eyes on Lena Todd knows she is prey in a den of predators, something that becomes more apparent the longer she moves through the Echelon's world as a debutante; however, she is also a perfect spy, what Blueblood would expect the supposedly empty headed and flirtatious Lena of working for the Humanists? But it soon it becomes hard to see who is friend and who is foe, and the only time she ever feels safe is when she is around Will Carver a Verwulfen who she has had a tendre for since first laying eyes on him, even if he has always pushed her away.

Kiss of Steel was one of my favourite reads last year, it was packed full of action, adventure, romance and some fantastic characters, so I was a little apprehensive about Heart of Iron could it live up up to my extremely high expectations? In short...YES! It absolutely did, it may have even surpassed them.

Heart of Iron had everything I loved about the previous book, the action and romance as well as a fast paced and interesting plot and has starting developing the world the Bec McMaster has created and added new exciting elements and character in. This book kept me turning the pages not just because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen between Lena and Will but also because I wanted to see what would happen in next in the dangerous world that they have been plonked in.

But the romance...normally I don't like books about barely 20 and beautiful debutantes but I found I really liked Lena , she may never be my favourite heroine but I also wasn't overwhelmed with the need to stab her in the eye with something sharp and shiny so it was a win. I did love Will though, he. Was. Delicious. All growly and broody and intense, it gives me the shivers! They made a great couple together, they both saw beneath the veneer that the other showed to the world and made a great couple.

This was a fantastic book, with an awesome cover and I can't wait to see what happens next, I am definitely going to be picking up the next book in the series and recommend you give the first book a try if you haven't already. ...more

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Feb 25, 2013 NiteReader rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk, paranormal, historical, 2013-reads

Why oh why???
I loved Blade and Honoria's story and had such high hopes for this novel. But this one was filled with too much world building and background story that Lena and Will almost became part of the scenery. Now I'm on the fence about the next book, I guess I'll wait and see the reviews.

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Jul 04, 2017 Juliette Cross rated it it was amazing

Another fabulous addition to the London Steampunk series. Truly love this world. I plan to savor each book as I work my way through it.

Recommended to readers of the dark, gritty, and super sexy paranormal.

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Apr 08, 2017 Monique rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, favorites

5 golden stars

I can't believe that Heart of Iron was actually even better than the first book. (And I loooved Kiss of Steel) I'm very much enjoying this series, like in a way that I would gladly live in that Victorian Steampunk London. Preferably with a verwulfen for my protection of course.

Will and Lena were a lovely couple. I was half in love with Will in the first book already. He was fiercely protective of the people he considered his family, and it was sad to see how he struggled with feeli ...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Susan (susayq ~) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013books, great-epilogue, ebooks, historical-romance, nbrc-team-tower, vampires, paranormal-everything-else

I love Sundays. Want to know why? Cause I occasionally spend them lying in bed all day reading, not cooking or being disturbed by the kiddos. Today was one of those Sundays. And I am beyond glad it was cause I might have had to kill someone if they tried to disturb me while I was reading this book!

As I've mentioned before, the world Bec McMaster created is amazing! It's a little dark and a lot dangerous. You never know who's truly a villain or a good guy. Now, don't misunderstand, cause there a ...more

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Nov 08, 2016 Penni rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, binge-bonus-shelf, judge-a-book-by-its-cover, ko_2016_ngbm, steampunk, top-picks

3-1/2 *'s

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Mar 05, 2016 Dina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, historical-romance, paranormal-romance, steampunk-romance, to-review

Will Carver is my newest book boyfriend... ;)

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Jul 17, 2014 Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Originally posted at The Book Nympho

icon AUDIOBOOK

I highly recommend that you read the novella, TARNISHED KNIGHT before reading HEART OF IRON since there is a few chapters about Will and Lena at the end. The chapters read as a long prologue for HEART OF IRON and gives you a little insight into why Lena and Will left the Warren.

I love the heavy steampunk elements we get with HEART OF IRON. I'm still pretty new to the genre and the fantastical elements in the historical setting is like a character all its ...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: wishlist, netgalley, own, steampunk, romance, action-adventure, fiction, historical, paranormal, suspense

In a world where the vampires are the ruling class (Blood Elite), life can be precarious. But being a spy for the humanist group is absolutely lethal if you make a wrong move, Lena Todd is a young debutante sitting on that razors edge. Lena is looking for her place in the world because the one place she wanted to be, with Will Carver, she felt she was rejected.

To say Will Carver’s life has been difficult would be an understatement. Turned by the Loupe virus at the age of 10, he was forced into s ...more

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Feb 19, 2016 Aoi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal-fantasy, hf-england, steampunk

Heart of Iron comes out as another winner for the series.. The fast paced & ridiculously addictive world Bec McMaster has created, is taken to the next level with even more world-building and complex characters readers could root for.

The year is 1879, and changes are afoot in the once- rarified world of the Echelon. Not only has Blade, the King of the Rookeries been knighted into their fold, but also his second-in-command the Beast has been roped in to secure the co-operation of the verwulf ...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Melanie rated it really liked it

4-4.5 stars

Bec McMaster is the Steampunk QUEEN!

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Feb 09, 2013 Amanda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: review-copy-provided, own-as-an-ebook, historical-romance, a-re-read

This book was reviewed for:

Lets Get Romantical
Where the Night Kind Roam

I love love love this series. I cannot thank Annie ( http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/ ) for suggesting this series to me. This book is the best of the series so far. I am in love with Will and want him for my very own! I read this book several weeks ago and for about a week after I finished it, I walked around with a Heart of Iron hangover! I couldn’t start any other books because this one was still on the brain.

This This book was reviewed for:

Lets Get Romantical
Where the Night Kind Roam

I love love love this series. I cannot thank Annie ( http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/ ) for suggesting this series to me. This book is the best of the series so far. I am in love with Will and want him for my very own! I read this book several weeks ago and for about a week after I finished it, I walked around with a Heart of Iron hangover! I couldn’t start any other books because this one was still on the brain.

This book takes place three years after the events of the first book. In the first book, Lena was determined to drive Will crazy and was very successful at this task. So much so, that Will had to leave and move into his own place. He desires Lena but there is nothing on earth that could make him take her as his own. For at least a year he has managed to avoid Lena, now that she has joined the Echelon that has become much easier then it previously was. When Will next meets Lena he finds a missive on her with a damning code. Will recognizes that code, he knows it belongs to the Humanists who just blew up a draining factory and almost killed Blade. Will knows Lena is in over her head. When he is called forth by the Prince Regent for a favor he realizes that his is a chance not only to free himself but to keep tabs on Lena. Lena is in way over her head, she never signed up for explosions and death. She ends up with danger all around her, without Will, she surely would have died.

Bec McAster has created a complex world and her world building is phenomenal. She really took her time building the world in the first book, so that by now we are familiar with all of the terminology and the world enough that we can truly appreciate the world that McAster built! There are elements of paranormal, historical and steampunk effortlessly combined for a completely unique series.

I never expected to actually like Lena, she didn’t quite endear herself to me in the first book. However, in this book she is actually pretty fierce! I actually came to love her as a character. She wants to believe in a cause, one bigger then herself. She doesn’t really belong anywhere, so she throws herself into the Humanist movement. When she sees Will again she realizes that she may be in over her head and that she never asked the right questions. After the chance meeting Will manages to entangle his life with hers. He has to be able to move through society and he needs Lena to help him with that. Being so close to Lena is both bliss and torture, he knows that she is HIS but he can never risk being with her. The Lupe Virus is so aggressive he can’t risk infecting her. Will is your typical Alpha male; he is possessive, protective and caring to his woman. The way he is with Lena is something you would never expect from such a brusque man. As a general rule, he stays away from people and especially females but his draw to Lena is undeniable. Time after time Will has to come to Lena’s aid making for an exciting story. There is always something going on. Bec McAster knows how to bring on the action to keep the reader entertained! While the action is raging, the romance is building. There is nothing quite like danger to bring a couple together. The passion runs deep and smoldering. Ms. McAster makes us wait for it, she teases us so good you don’t even realize we are waiting for it. When we finally get it, it’s worth the wait. Will is definitely worth the wait!

Rating:
5

*This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.
...more

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Jun 03, 2016 Lindsay rated it really liked it

4.5 stars rounded down since I liked Kiss of Steel a teensy bit better than this one I think.

For starters, this is a great read. In terms of being swept up in the action of a book and not wanting to put it down, this is a 5 star book. Much as I remember with Kiss of Steel, this gritty, dark, and steampunk-y world is well-crafted and full of suspense and emotion. McMaster is great at writing descriptive passages that are yet also easy to follow. Despite the paranormal and fantasy elements rampant 4.5 stars rounded down since I liked Kiss of Steel a teensy bit better than this one I think.

For starters, this is a great read. In terms of being swept up in the action of a book and not wanting to put it down, this is a 5 star book. Much as I remember with Kiss of Steel, this gritty, dark, and steampunk-y world is well-crafted and full of suspense and emotion. McMaster is great at writing descriptive passages that are yet also easy to follow. Despite the paranormal and fantasy elements rampant here, there is a realism to the writing that is easy to get lost in. You can see the characters sweat and bleed and wince in a way that brings everything to life page after page. For 400 pages, this read really quickly for me.

So what didn't I like? Before reading this one, I had seen that many of my GR friends liked it and/or the H, Will Carver, the best of the series. I liked Will and honestly didn't find anything really wrong with him, but he wasn't the most amazing male MC I've ever come across. He doesn't talk a whole lot, honestly, and his verwulfen berserker rage comes off a bit Hulk-y to me. I liked his extreme loyalty and protective instincts, but other than that he was just a solid male MC for me. Nothing super special. He was sweet, but there were just too many times when I felt bad for him. I did like the chapters (view spoiler)

What I think was missing most, though, was a deeper connection between Will and Lena. I couldn't remember specifics from the end of Kiss of Steel, but other than them being physically attracted to one another, I really never felt what made them connect so strongly. It was a little insta-lusty for me here. They are drawn to one another, but they are so different and have so little in common...at least Blade and Honoria had a common enemy and sort of a linked past to go on. These two just had an unspoken magnetic attraction- which is fine- but I would have liked something a bit deeper or with more meat to it. It's not that I didn't like them together, I just felt like something was missing.
Lena was...fine. She came off a bit reckless at times, and I didn't always care for the way she teased Will early on. I was glad when she finally chose him over what she looked like to the Echelon. It was nice when she realized he was the only person she had to confide in and became honest with herself how much he meant to her. I liked her a lot more after that.

Pacing-wise, I felt like things wrapped up a bit too quickly after Lena (view spoiler) I kept waiting for her 5 days to finish the clockwork thing to come back and get her in trouble, but somehow it got finished even though she was indisposed. This also ended a bit cliffhanger-y if you take the epilogue into consideration. (view spoiler)

A question I had (that may have been answered in Kiss of Steel, but I didn't remember)- I guess the craving virus renders one immune to the loupe virus? It must, considering that Blade repeatedly fed from Will in the last book and at the beginning here. But I don't remember it being explained.

Overall- this was good. Definitely a solid read that I'd recommend, but only if you've read Kiss of Steel first. ...more

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Apr 20, 2014 K. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014, paranormal, steampunk, australian, urban-fantasy, own-it-kindle, alternate-history, setting-uk, audience-adult, 2017

21/3/2017
On reread, I'm dropping this to 3.25 stars. I still like the world, I still like a lot of the characters. But on reread, the relationship between Will and Lena seems a lot more...possessive than it did the first time I read it. There's also some fairly dubious consent at times - he's repeatedly saying "I can't" because if they have sex, she'll become a verwulfen too (because cum will infect you. Uh. Okay) and she's pushing him anyway, and he's all "NO, REALLY, I CAN'T" and she's all "Bu 21/3/2017
On reread, I'm dropping this to 3.25 stars. I still like the world, I still like a lot of the characters. But on reread, the relationship between Will and Lena seems a lot more...possessive than it did the first time I read it. There's also some fairly dubious consent at times - he's repeatedly saying "I can't" because if they have sex, she'll become a verwulfen too (because cum will infect you. Uh. Okay) and she's pushing him anyway, and he's all "NO, REALLY, I CAN'T" and she's all "But just this once" and keeps going, and giiiiiiiirl. You need to fucking stop. He said no.

Anyway. I'm also kind of pissed off about the fact that rich young men become bluebloods ('blueblood' is to Buffy's version of a vampire what 'vampire' is to Turok-Han) while basically the only option for rich young women is to become a thrall to a blueblood, i.e. a blood donor who has sex with the guy she's donating blood to if she wants to. Not marriage contracts. Just...blood donor and occasional fuck buddy contracts. But also you have very few rights until you've signed a contract and even then, the younger ones like to share among themselves and you have no say in that.

Look, it sounds like I'm being very negative here. I honestly did enjoy this book, and I do like this series a lot. But there are...issues...here that need to be discussed.

21/4/2014
4 stars.

I was a little hesitant going into this, given that I spent the whole of the first book thinking that Will was gay. I read the preview first chapter of this, and was all "Ugh, he was gay until he met a girl? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO." But this actually managed to explain a lot of Will's mistrust of women and his attitude towards Blade really well, and I ended up loving it. I think I actually enjoyed it more than the first book, possibly because Blade reminded me far too much of BtVS' Spike who I can't stand.

There were some moments of possessive male "she is mine" nonsense, but they were mostly in a verwulfen-mate-for-life way. And none of the "she is mine" stuff was directed at Lena, instead being directed people who were threatening Lena. So even though I usually hate that crap, I was weirdly okay with it here. The relationship between Will and Lena was a slow burn, which I was totally on board with. There's nothing worse than insta-love.

Basically, it's smutty fluff. But it's totally readable smutty fluff, so...yeah. ...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Melindeeloo rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The romance in Heart of Iron really worked for me and I liked the coarse and 'growly' Will - who tries so hard to fight his instincts and be noble with Lena.

I was initially less thrilled with Lena playing spy, but since that thread actually carries forward to take the series into a new part of the world in the next book, I was okay with it by the end of the story - even though Lena was sort of naive in working for a cause, without knowing what exactly she was working toward (especially since, ev ...more

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About Bec McMaster

Bec McMaster

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Bec McMaster is the award-winning author of the London Steampunk series. A member of RWA, she writes sexy, dark paranormals, and adventurous steampunk romances, and grew up with her nose in a book. Following a life-long love affair with fantasy, she discovered romance novels as a 16 year-old, and hasn't looked back.

In 2012, Sourcebooks released her debut novel, Kiss of Steel, the first in the Lon ...more