The Iron Duke (Iron Seas, #1) in Exclusive Author-Editor Chat featuring author Meljean Brook and editor Cindy Hwang

Sep 14, 2010 Jill Myles rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio

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. ...more

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Sep 24, 2010 Melindeeloo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk, favorites, x2018-audio-challenge

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 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 values of the time 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 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 values of the time are still in force but with just enough of a twist added by what the people have survived under their oppressors - and still endure due to the technology that shaped their lives - to create a truly unique framework for a story which is 'smart' and so much more than a romance.

I really loved interactions between the leads: dangerous larger than life former pirate and national hero Rhys Trahaern and Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth, the brave and intelligent woman whom Rhys is determined to possess. However, the relationship between the pair in the Iron Duke isn't as romantic as some of Brook's other romances. And several of their sexual encounters aren't as much about romance as they are about character discovery or moving the relationship between the Mina and Rhys in a new direction - and one in particular goes to an uncomfortable place while doing it - so there wasn't quite as much steamy payoff for my inner romance reader.

In addition to the leads several of the supporting characters are standouts. I am hoping to see a great deal more of swashbuckling airship captain Lady Corsair, the savvy Lord Scarsdale, and adventurer Achimedes Fox in future books.

Steampunk is a bit of a widening of horizons for me from the more contemporary settings and paranormal elements of my normal urban fantasy and paranormal romance, but I actually ended up quite enamored with Brook's Iron Seas series starter - so that much that I read it twice back-to-back (gasp - I rarely reread). Iron Duke is definitely going on my very small keeper shelf and I'll be anxiously waiting for the next one, Steel Heart.

If you are looking for more of Brook's Iron Seas, or just want to take a dip into this Brook's fascinating steampunk world before trying Iron Duke, you may want to check out the prequel "Here There Be Monsters" in the Burning Up (Berkley Sensation) anthology - it is also quite good and works well as a standalone. ...more

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Dec 04, 2010 Carla rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, own, 2011

Great book! I really wasn't expecting a mystery, adventure, romance kind of book and was really surprised on it starting out with a murder. But I loved it! It had everything I love to see in a book. A well crafted story with interesting characters. It even made me laugh at times and there was a part that left me teary eyed.

I really enjoyed it and can't wait to pick up the next book.

~*~

Mais sobre o livro, com alguns spoilers, na conversa com 2 grandes malucas, Janita e Tchetcha: primeira parte e ...more

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Dec 12, 2010 Michelle Cummings rated it it was amazing

Shelves: steampunk, favorites

Still a 5 star read, the second through. Apparently, I didn't write a review the first time I read this, but it was my favorite book of 2010. The author's worldbuilding is phenomenal. In this steampunk universe, the Mongol Horde invaded Europe all the way to England. The didn't have a navy, so they put nanotechnology into the tea and sugar that they traded with England and after enough had been consumed, they used radio to send signals that controlled the English, and they were able to take over ...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Fedora rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow.

That was quite a ride. Ms. Brook packs it all in--adventure, fascinating technology and worlds, complex characters, and some steam!

Rhys, the Iron Duke, freed England from Horde control, and has parlayed that triumph into an entree into Society. He's now considered a national hero, with seemingly very deep pockets and connections. The story begins when a body is dumped on his property...

Mina is a police inspector. In a world that both fears and loathes reminders of the Horde, her half-Horde f ...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Lisarenee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk

I am starting to get addicted to these steampunk paranormal books.

Looking for a fast paced, fun, and slightly naughty read? Well this might just hit the spot.

Set in England in the 1800s in an alternate world that reminds me a little of something that would happen on an episode of the Sci-Fi TV series Sliders (not that this is like one, but would have fit into the series nicely). Mina is the inspector and is looking into the murder of an unknown individual found on the Iron Duke's property. The I ...more

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Sep 22, 2010 Ddsun rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, steampunk-romance

One of the many things that I like about Ms Brook's books is that they are not simple, so I hope you'll excuse a somewhat longer review.

The Iron Duke is Meljean Brook's second Iron Seas story set in an alternate, Steampunk world. (The first was a short story in "Burning Up", released in August.)

Not sure what steampunk is exactly? Think Robert Downey's recent Sherlock Holmes movie, or Sean Connery in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Ms Brook's version is a Regency-flavored confection, with One of the many things that I like about Ms Brook's books is that they are not simple, so I hope you'll excuse a somewhat longer review.

The Iron Duke is Meljean Brook's second Iron Seas story set in an alternate, Steampunk world. (The first was a short story in "Burning Up", released in August.)

Not sure what steampunk is exactly? Think Robert Downey's recent Sherlock Holmes movie, or Sean Connery in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Ms Brook's version is a Regency-flavored confection, with hints of Victorian decorum, and heft doses of zombies and romance. Delicious!

In the Iron Seas-verse, the Mongols conquered Europe and held it. Survivors have fled across the Atlantic to the New World, and Europe and Africa are still in thrall. England has rebelled and managed to win its freedom, but wrestles with their new society. The Mongol Horde uses nanotech to take over the bodies of their subjects, deadening all emotion, and even modifies some surgically, to make them more functional. Being infected with nanotech brings some benefits, resistance to disease and quicker healing, but also holds the constant threat of re-subjugation, should the Mongols regain control.

Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth has Horde blood in her veins, and struggles daily with hatred and prejudice because of it. She has a career she loves, and faces the loss of everything she holds dear should scandal damage her reputation. When a case involving the Iron Duke, Rhys Trahaern, unexpectedly intertwines with a family crisis, she finds herself in danger of losing her life and her heart.

Rhys Trahaern freed England from the Horde and is accustomed to getting what he wants, when he wants it, and damn the consequences. And now he's got his sights on Mina. His attentions might be the the very thing that destroys everything that Mina holds dear. Will Rhys learn how to love soon enough to save Mina, not only from England's enemies, but from himself?

The Iron Seas world is complicated and fantastically imagined. Details from the interactions of uninfected with the infected, to the psychological issues of those who were not used to strong emotions, to how a society might reconstruct itself after centuries of occupation, are all in this book. Rhys and Mina are both complex, real, and flawed characters, and I loved them all the more for it. Neither was perfect, and both had issues to overcome before they could reach their richly deserved HEA.

This combination of intricate world-building and truly human characters results in a must-read book that I highly recommend to all readers of paranormal romance or urban fantasy.

This books succeeds on many levels and fronts - it's a Victorian crime procedural; it's a Regency-era romance of manners; and it's a triumphant fantasy novel about an alternate Earth. It's one of the most unique books I've read in a long time, and also one of the best romances. I'll return to this world again and again, and I suggest taht you read this book today! ...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Meaghan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I have been looking at the screen for a little while trying to put into words just how much I love this book and I am struggling. Does anyone else have a harder time writing reviews for books they love as opposed to books they did not enjoy as much? Well I do. I am going to attempt to express my love for this book and not just squeal with giddiness, so here goes. :)

The first thing that drew me into this book was the world itself. Meljean paints a magnificent picture of a world that is fascinatin I have been looking at the screen for a little while trying to put into words just how much I love this book and I am struggling. Does anyone else have a harder time writing reviews for books they love as opposed to books they did not enjoy as much? Well I do. I am going to attempt to express my love for this book and not just squeal with giddiness, so here goes. :)

The first thing that drew me into this book was the world itself. Meljean paints a magnificent picture of a world that is fascinating and engrossing. In some books when an author is describing a world it can get wordy and I will skim ahead. The Iron Duke forced me to slow down and soak in every word. The way Meljean worked the descriptions into the plot was seamless and you got just enough of how the world around them looked mixed with what the characters were doing. The Victorian backdrop blends perfectly with the futuristic iron creations that are involved in the characters’ lives. I was infatuated with learning every detail about how iron played such a large role in society and could be used for practically everything from prosthetic limbs, to mirrored eyes from which someone can actually see out of, to mechanical butlers. The possibilities seemed endless and whenever a new creation made an appearance I was eager to learn more about it.

I also appreciated the quick moving plot and the fact that Meljean did not drag it out with one goal that lasts the entire length of the book. It is a quest that starts out with Mina just investigating a simple murder and takes her and Rhys (The Iron Duke) through multiple battles that involve pirates, zombies and people crafted from iron all out to destroy them. They face a number of advisories and every time they think they have uncovered the person behind the murder, they fall deeper into an overall scheme that will affect all of England. The dots get connected at a rapid fire pace and I never quite knew who they should trust or what they would find around the next corner, but I was consumed with the desire to find out.

As for the romance in this story, it is a very slow build. There were quite a few points where I wanted to reach into the book and shake Mina for her hesitancy. Not that her concerns are not justified, I just don’t know how she had such willpower to resist the Iron Duke. He was extremely persistent and pursued Mina with such a fierce passion. His determination to win her became his soul mission and she could only fight her feelings to give into him for so long. The anticipation of the romance built through the novel and when Mina and Rhys finally let their hearts lead them the result is explosive. The time they take to get to know each other also leaves the reader with a deep emotional connection to characters and a vested interest in their well-being.

Overall, this is an exquisitely written book that I was fully engrossed in from the very beginning. It was my very first Steampunk book which had me hesitant at first since I do not know much about the genre, but now that I have read it I will certainly be looking into this genre further. My only complaint is that I wish I could read more of this world immediately! The next book comes out in November so luckily I do not have that long to wait, but right now it feels like an eternity! This book is a must read if you are a fan of Steampunk and if you have not read any books in this genre than I highly suggest you try out The Iron Duke. It is a dramatic start to a new series that will leave you aching for more! ...more

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Sep 23, 2010 Anthi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk, dystopian, romance, zombies-ghouls, alt-history, victorian, iron-seas-series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Well just when I thought that I can't love Brook's books more here comes The Iron Duke!!! OH MY GOD!! This book is pure awsomeness. I don't know from where to start. We have the groundbreaking blending of two genres (steampunk and history romance), the detailed world building - mrs Brook has seriously done her share of homework about the Victorian period and the Khan Empire, but it is in the details of the steampunk elements (and I don't mean just the technology) and their impact not just to Bri ...more

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Oct 07, 2010 Jeannie Lin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: keeper

Every time you think "this is so good", it keeps getting better...and better. Even in the last ten pages. ...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Kara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, mystery, good-romance, owned, steampunk, sci-fi

Amazing mix of elements: steampunk, romance, mystery, zombies, pirates...a strong hapa heroine! Romance was flawlessly done (Rhys = za za zoom, execution was steamy and well, romantic). I also loved how a larger adventure swirled around Mina and Rhys while they fell for each other. It's nice to have some excitement and suspense on the side, so it's not so one-dimensional. And great world-building! What a backstory.

Only pet peeve: it's so cheesy when authors mention a person's "need". Like "his n ...more

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Oct 06, 2010 Rhianna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

BEST Romance of 2010! (5 stars)

Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth may be a woman of skill and social standing in post-Horde controlled London yet she faces challenges few could fathom. The subject of whispers and public accost due to the Horde blood she cannot hide, she cannot afford the sudden attention of infamous Iron Duke, Rhys Trahaearn. But the Iron Duke's attention cannot be dissuaded when a badly abused corpse is dropped at his doorstep. It is up to Mina to discover who has a reason to p BEST Romance of 2010! (5 stars)

Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth may be a woman of skill and social standing in post-Horde controlled London yet she faces challenges few could fathom. The subject of whispers and public accost due to the Horde blood she cannot hide, she cannot afford the sudden attention of infamous Iron Duke, Rhys Trahaearn. But the Iron Duke's attention cannot be dissuaded when a badly abused corpse is dropped at his doorstep. It is up to Mina to discover who has a reason to provoke the Iron Duke.

Rhys Trahaearn never intended to make a name for himself when he destroyed the Horde's tower which controlled the "buggers". A simple chain of events begun by the former pirate have lead to a dukedom and a the building of a merchant empire. Feared and loved alike, the Iron Duke's influence is felt far and wide. Underneath the swagger and fearless reputation, Rhys is a far simpler man than his alter ego. A man who finds Mina undeniably attractive, a man who won't be denied.

Thrust together by her investigation, Mina and the Duke must weather a storm of secrets, passion and a danger that stretches far beyond their own lives. The fate of England falls on the shoulders of a tenacious Horde blooded woman and the rakish pirate-turned-businessman who will stop at nothing to possess her.

I know I am not alone in my five star rating of this novel. Before I picked this one up I had heard it praised many times over. Which, I have to admit, scared me a little. I was afraid it might not live up to the high expectations I had for it. Fortunately, Brook is quite possibly the most gifted romance writer out there. I love a nice, fluffy romance as much as the next reader but if you want something solid and intelligent look no further.

The Iron Duke might be a steampunk adventure of the highest order but the romance at its heart is delectable. Rhys is a little bit of everything rolled up into one. He's brash, alpha and oh-so-rogueish and still manages to be sensitive to Mina's needs. He manages an apology! He's a giving lover. The man is the sort of hero most romance readers adore. Quite simply he's almost too good to be true! Mina manages to be strong and yet have these vulnerabilities that are believable. I wanted to hate her for it but they made her real, relatable and it wasn't hard to want to knock some sense into her when she wasn't as smitten with Rhys as I was. The sex in this story was so well written it knocked my socks off.

As much as I love a steamy romance where the chemistry between the hero and heroine flies of the page I NEED a good storyline for them to be dropped in. The Iron Duke delivers in spades. There is some heavy world building here. This is steampunkery with a dash of nanotech and may not be for a reader who has a hard time with reading about clockworks and psuedosciences without going crosseyed. Keeping that in mind I loved it. Being new-ish to steampunk I felt like this was a terrific example of combining it with a romance to form an intricate, intelligent and extremely entertaining read.

Quite honestly I could keep going for paragraph after paragraph expounding on why you should buy The Iron Duke but I won't. Let me sum it up. Hot love scenes. Girls who kick serious booty. Bad guys you'll enjoy seeing beaten. More hot love scenes. Superb dialog. Awesome tech! High adventure. Zombies! Steampowered sex toys. Cool fights. Kraken! And more hot love scenes. Buy it. Enjoy it. Share it.
(Notes: I received my copy of this book from its publicist at my request.) ...more

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Oct 27, 2010 Meow rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, steampunk-victoriana, borrowed

***POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT***
(Putting a spoiler alert on this because I discuss the end of the novel, but not in specifics.)

I pretty much agree with Felicia Day's review of this: The world was AWESOME and I loved the Steampunk-without-wanking-on-Steampunk genre, and Mina was an excellent, strong character. It's a shame that the Iron Duke himself wasn't a little more well-rounded, or wasn't treated like "his asinine boy behavior is totally acceptable and should be swooned over". I did NOT mind the ...more

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Sep 05, 2010 Judithe rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk, wrote-review, b-o-m, 2020-read

Fantastic! I read a short story introducing this series in Burning Up, and found Brook's world quite intriguing. The first novel of this series is even better! The characters are fascinating and real. I'm sure other reviews will have more detail about the actual story, which I'll leave to them. I'll only add that this is a hard-to-put-down novel and I can't wait to read the next. ...more

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Aug 02, 2010 Jaclyn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: keeper, rereadable, other-world, steampunk, zombies, alternate-history

One of the best books I've read recently. Wonderfully unique, the author managed to break out of the molds that frequent romance readers, such as myself, expect a storyline to take. The development of the relationship and the adventure the characters embark on were always throwing me for a curve: just when I thought I could anticipate what would happen next, Brook introduced a new element to the story. I look forward to seeing all of these characters again! (Here's hoping Lady Corsair gets her o ...more

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Aug 19, 2010 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: family-issues, child-or-children-play-a-big-part, angsty-read, rumor-has-it, tortured-hero, favorite-heroines, favorite-heroes, alpha-male, alpha-female, favorites

OMFG I LOVE THIS BOOK *falls over*

Review to follow (I have WAY too much to type to do it tonight), but GAH! I thought Here There Be Monsters from The Burning Up Anthology was fantastic, but holy cow, this one just blew that out of the water :D

10 Stars (because dangit, it was better than just 5) ...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Holly rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-completed

My first steampunk book and I'm hooked! Such an interesting mythology Brook has developed, and yet the exposition of it doesn't overwhelm the romance plot line. My only complaint was that I would have enjoyed tad bit more character development for Rhys, but that's a minor complaint in a FANTASTIC book. Highly recommended! ...more

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