Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Berkley Trade (2010), Edition: Original, Paperback, 384 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML: After freeing England from Horde control, Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire. And when Detective Mina Wentworth enters his dangerous world to investigate a mysterious death, Rhys intends to make her his next conquest..
User reviews
LibraryThing member rivkat
Okay, there’s now a zombie steampunk subgenre, which I didn’t know. The Mongol Horde, aided by its nanomachines, overran most of Europe, turning the Continentals who didn’t escape to the New World into zombies and the residents of England into buggers, non-zombies controlled by their
However, the coercion in the romance went past my tolerance level for het. As lightgetsin said, it’s the reluctant woman/determined man trope, where he’s confident that he’s going to “have” her and the romance involves his definition of “having” changing as he realizes that he’s never going to be done with her, as meanwhile she falls in love with him. So he’s fine with using job-related pressure and blackmail to get her, and also he’s sure that her no doesn’t mean no. But underneath it he’s a good guy! This produces the following scenario: she doesn’t want to have sex and says so; though he is not in any way impaired, he confidently ignores her “no” and fucks her; she has an orgasm; he realizes that she is truly devastated by the sex and that her “no” was serious and he feels really bad about it. She forgives him. Then, they negotiate the boundaries of her consent. A little late, was my feeling.
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nanomachines and often modified (limbs replaced with mining implements, etc.). Buggers were subject to Horde-triggered mating frenzies before the Iron Duke destroyed the tower that controlled the nanomachines, allowing the expulsion of the Mongols. He's the Iron Duke because his body has been extra modified; though he looks the same, there's metal running under his skin, making him very heavy (and making me wonder about his dick, which is suitably large but apparently not subject to the same modifications). The product of one such Frenzy, with a Mongol father, is our protagonist Mina, a detective inspector who faces substantial racial prejudice in the post-revolutionary order. The story starts with a murder on the Iron Duke’s grounds and rockets along from there, with lots of worldbuilding and conspiracy and airships and automata. And zombies.However, the coercion in the romance went past my tolerance level for het. As lightgetsin said, it’s the reluctant woman/determined man trope, where he’s confident that he’s going to “have” her and the romance involves his definition of “having” changing as he realizes that he’s never going to be done with her, as meanwhile she falls in love with him. So he’s fine with using job-related pressure and blackmail to get her, and also he’s sure that her no doesn’t mean no. But underneath it he’s a good guy! This produces the following scenario: she doesn’t want to have sex and says so; though he is not in any way impaired, he confidently ignores her “no” and fucks her; she has an orgasm; he realizes that she is truly devastated by the sex and that her “no” was serious and he feels really bad about it. She forgives him. Then, they negotiate the boundaries of her consent. A little late, was my feeling.
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LibraryThing member xfryx
When I started reading this book, I was in love with the steampunk alternate history and how it was presented. I became disenchanted when I was informed that ‘nanotechnology’ could not be present in a steampunk novel because it was far beyond the reach of our own technology and didn’t harken
The female protagonist is wonderful. I love when there is something different. It seems like every female protagonist needs to have a sarcastic mouth and a lot of snark. So while Mina puts on a front because deep down she has feelings, she isn’t some constant bad ass.
The male protagonist is someone I wanted to punch- in the face, in the balls-, to trip while he walked around, to push in front of a bus. He said shag more than Austin Powers. One track mind doesn’t begin to cover his character and subsequent development.
I loved the side characters- the navigator who’s afraid of heights, the big burly redhead with honor, the Lady Corsair, and the traveling adventurer.
The world building, the female protagonist and the side characters were fantastic. It was only the male protagonist that got to me. Minus one star for being a douche.
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back to anything. Despite that detail, it is still magnificent in its world building.The female protagonist is wonderful. I love when there is something different. It seems like every female protagonist needs to have a sarcastic mouth and a lot of snark. So while Mina puts on a front because deep down she has feelings, she isn’t some constant bad ass.
The male protagonist is someone I wanted to punch- in the face, in the balls-, to trip while he walked around, to push in front of a bus. He said shag more than Austin Powers. One track mind doesn’t begin to cover his character and subsequent development.
I loved the side characters- the navigator who’s afraid of heights, the big burly redhead with honor, the Lady Corsair, and the traveling adventurer.
The world building, the female protagonist and the side characters were fantastic. It was only the male protagonist that got to me. Minus one star for being a douche.
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LibraryThing member lalawe
Steampunk meets romance - and what a delightful combination! A decade has passed since the Iron Duke helped run the Horde, invaderes who had occupied England for two centures. English society is an uneasy buggers - people infected with nanobots by the Horde - and bounders - the English aristocracy
The plot was a tad predictable, but honestly, it was so much fun tagging along with Mina and Rhys that I didn't mind. I loved Mina, but I didn't think Rhys stood out that much from other similar "I have problems with emotions and dealing with people" alpha males. The secondary characters were fun, and I'm looking forward to (hopefully) more backstory from them in future books. I felt the traditional romance misconception (the thing that happens to cause the hero and heroine to think they actually hate each other, just so that they can kiss and make up for the happy ending) was believable.
Overall, definitely a fun book - and I'll be on the lookout for the next!
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who fled to the new world when the Horde invaded. From this world, we get the Iron Duke and Mina, both wonderfully strong characters. The plot was a tad predictable, but honestly, it was so much fun tagging along with Mina and Rhys that I didn't mind. I loved Mina, but I didn't think Rhys stood out that much from other similar "I have problems with emotions and dealing with people" alpha males. The secondary characters were fun, and I'm looking forward to (hopefully) more backstory from them in future books. I felt the traditional romance misconception (the thing that happens to cause the hero and heroine to think they actually hate each other, just so that they can kiss and make up for the happy ending) was believable.
Overall, definitely a fun book - and I'll be on the lookout for the next!
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LibraryThing member castiron
A very interesting read. The worldbuilding is great; there's tons of nifty stuff, and it all fits together well. (I'm sure I could find holes if I poked at it, but it's so cool and shiny that I'm not looking for holes.) Mina is a believable character with interesting and logical views given her
What I didn't care for: I'm not a fan of the alpha hero "let me inform you that I know you want me as much as I want you and I'm going to overcome your reservations and have you" trope. If I liked that trope, Rhys would've been a perfect hero -- he's very determined, and when he oversteps and hurts Mina, he reacts and apologizes like a decent human being rather than like an entitled jerk. But it doesn't really work for me, and after a while I started skimming the bits where Rhys was thinking about how much he's attracted to Mina.
I also felt like the resolution of the romance was too pat. There are serious social barriers between Mina and Rhys, barriers that even Rhys was compelled to see, and I wasn't convinced that Mina would really decide "oh, it's not that big a deal after all".
Still, did I mention the worldbuilding? Love the worldbuilding. The world is why I want to read further books in this series.
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history; I admire her dedication to her work. Rhys is intriguing and compelling, and yet human; I particularly liked when he explained what was really going on when he broke the Horde's control over England.What I didn't care for: I'm not a fan of the alpha hero "let me inform you that I know you want me as much as I want you and I'm going to overcome your reservations and have you" trope. If I liked that trope, Rhys would've been a perfect hero -- he's very determined, and when he oversteps and hurts Mina, he reacts and apologizes like a decent human being rather than like an entitled jerk. But it doesn't really work for me, and after a while I started skimming the bits where Rhys was thinking about how much he's attracted to Mina.
I also felt like the resolution of the romance was too pat. There are serious social barriers between Mina and Rhys, barriers that even Rhys was compelled to see, and I wasn't convinced that Mina would really decide "oh, it's not that big a deal after all".
Still, did I mention the worldbuilding? Love the worldbuilding. The world is why I want to read further books in this series.
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LibraryThing member atheist_goat
Steampunk romance with zombies. I really liked Brook's world-building, but the romance aspect of this was tediously old-school, with far too much talk of how the hero is some sort of six-foot-seven shoulders-too-wide-for-doorways giant and the heroine is this tiny waif one-third his size (this talk
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includes details that, frankly, should make their sex extraordinarily painful for the heroine if not anatomically impossible). And I've noticed something about romances written in the last ten years: balls. The romance novels I read as a teenager featured, of course, many throbbing members and lustful shafts, but I don't remember the guy's balls ever really being mentioned. In the new ones it's all about the balls, and their mass, to an extent that is worthy of Hemingway writing about bulls. And Brook has a faux-British slang going on in her world, the end result of which is that our hero's balls are referred to as "cods". As in, "she hefted his weighty cods". Well, of course she did. I know when I'm in bed with a man I go straight for the weighty cods. Show Less
LibraryThing member allureofbooks
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook is one of the best steampunk fantasy novels I’ve read to date. While some of the characters took awhile to grow on me (and they all eventually did), the plot was very original and captivated me from the beginning.
Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth hears that a body
Let me tell y’all, this plot is pretty much go-go-go. Non-stop action and suspense surrounded by a cast of incredibly varied and original characters equals one heck of a great book. I couldn’t get enough of any of it! From the very beginning I loved Mina – she was a little prickly, but she had very good reason to be. I really enjoyed the way she interacted with the people around her. She was also really daring – she pulls off some pretty incredible stunts that had me holding my breath.
As for Rhys: he originally grated on my nerves. I didn’t like the way he initially viewed Mina as something to possess, or his sky-high sense of entitlement. However, he is one of the characters you just have to be patient with…once Meljean Brook lets us get to know him a little better he quickly got into my good graces.
This book really does have a little bit of everything and I enjoyed all of it – from the mystery to the steampunk to the romance. I will definitely be following this series, this isn’t a world you’ll want to leave behind!
Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth hears that a body
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has been discovered on The Iron Duke’s property. Rhys, the duke, is credited with ending the dictatorial Horde’s control over England. Mina knows dealing with a crime involving the national hero could get complicated. Considering that as soon as they meet, he becomes obsessed with possessing her – complicated is pretty good word for it. Mina’s birth was a result of a Horde raping of her mother – so her existence is taboo and dangerous enough without adding a newsworthy romance into the mix. She tries to avoid attracting Rhys further – but what is she supposed to do if she finds herself attracted right back? As they both become further involved with the mystery that started with the dead body, they also become increasingly involved with each other.Let me tell y’all, this plot is pretty much go-go-go. Non-stop action and suspense surrounded by a cast of incredibly varied and original characters equals one heck of a great book. I couldn’t get enough of any of it! From the very beginning I loved Mina – she was a little prickly, but she had very good reason to be. I really enjoyed the way she interacted with the people around her. She was also really daring – she pulls off some pretty incredible stunts that had me holding my breath.
As for Rhys: he originally grated on my nerves. I didn’t like the way he initially viewed Mina as something to possess, or his sky-high sense of entitlement. However, he is one of the characters you just have to be patient with…once Meljean Brook lets us get to know him a little better he quickly got into my good graces.
This book really does have a little bit of everything and I enjoyed all of it – from the mystery to the steampunk to the romance. I will definitely be following this series, this isn’t a world you’ll want to leave behind!
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LibraryThing member UrbanFantasyGuy
Unlike anything I have ever read before. It was only the second steampunk book that I have ever read, but it did not disappoint. Mina is an extremely likeable character that you feel for throughout the book. What makes this book outstanding is its secondary characters like Scarsdale, Yasmeen, and
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The Blacksmith among many others. Scarsdale and Yasmeen provide great comic relief while the mysterious Blacksmith leaves you wanting to know more. This is an amazing start to a series that shows great promise. Show Less
LibraryThing member nessreader
Alas for my girlish hopes.
I heard about this one online many months ago and had been promising myself an uncharacteristically sappy Wellington of Waterloo fame. It was NOT wellington, but a made up duke.
This made up duke was also pirate, as this is a reasonable job combination in romancelandia.
The love story consisted of her going nonoIcan't and him going butyouWILLmypretty, over and over again. Which palled. But it was the steampunk world which grabbed me, not the romance. It is integrally steampunk, by which I mean that the steampunk is built into the plot and fundamental to the characters' lives and not a decorative extra. I'm delighted that this is the first of a series, as this is a tempting world to explore, at least on paper. To explore it for real, one would have to face down zombies, war and sea monsters, alongside the usual Victorian era unpleasantnesses such as industrial pollution, classism and racism. On the other hand, the women in this version of England do get to have careers without raising an eyebrow, which means we get a marvellous piratical lady airship captain, and the female lead of this book, a homicide investigator.
Setting: unspecified late victorian, tensions between longtime occupants of an england that has been occupied territory and the returned descendants of colonists who fled occupation. Which reminded me of how irish americans used to say I'm Irish too! and we'd think No you're Not. It had a class system and industrial pollution and people worrying about money and while heroine's family came from sunnybrook farm school of unrelieved lovableness there were enough people around being horrid to offset the cloyingness of that.
But! Zeppelins! A kraken! I will forgive much for zeppelins and a kraken who is used in plot. I will even forgive romance, am very open minded like that
I heard about this one online many months ago and had been promising myself an uncharacteristically sappy Wellington of Waterloo fame. It was NOT wellington, but a made up duke.
This made up duke was also pirate, as this is a reasonable job combination in romancelandia.
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The love story consisted of her going nonoIcan't and him going butyouWILLmypretty, over and over again. Which palled. But it was the steampunk world which grabbed me, not the romance. It is integrally steampunk, by which I mean that the steampunk is built into the plot and fundamental to the characters' lives and not a decorative extra. I'm delighted that this is the first of a series, as this is a tempting world to explore, at least on paper. To explore it for real, one would have to face down zombies, war and sea monsters, alongside the usual Victorian era unpleasantnesses such as industrial pollution, classism and racism. On the other hand, the women in this version of England do get to have careers without raising an eyebrow, which means we get a marvellous piratical lady airship captain, and the female lead of this book, a homicide investigator.
Setting: unspecified late victorian, tensions between longtime occupants of an england that has been occupied territory and the returned descendants of colonists who fled occupation. Which reminded me of how irish americans used to say I'm Irish too! and we'd think No you're Not. It had a class system and industrial pollution and people worrying about money and while heroine's family came from sunnybrook farm school of unrelieved lovableness there were enough people around being horrid to offset the cloyingness of that.
But! Zeppelins! A kraken! I will forgive much for zeppelins and a kraken who is used in plot. I will even forgive romance, am very open minded like that
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LibraryThing member bibliophile.brouhaha
This was my first steampunk - I actually picked it up thinking up thinking it was YA, and OH NO, it definitely wasn't! However, I really, truly liked it - I wasn't prepared for how amazingly detailed the story was. It was fascinating, and I loved the story, which reminded me a bit of The Matrix
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here and there - I found Mina's story harrowing and gripping - what a backstory! I also liked how Brook put her in a position of authority, but made her shunned by society at large. It added a great, touching element to the story. About the only thing that kind of irked me was the just how alpha male the Duke was - it was a little over the top for me at some points, but I did enjoy the romance between the two. A great book, and I recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member kmartin802
This steampunk mystery/romance takes place in an England that has just thrown off the conquering Horde. The hero who saved the country is the Iron Duke - Rhys Trahearn who was a former pirate. Our heroine Mina Wentworth is a Detective Inspector, the daughter of an Earl, and the mixed blood result
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of one of the Horde's Frenzies. She looks like the hated Horde and faces much prejudice in England. She is called to the Iron Duke's home when a corpse is found on his front porch. The murder investigation quickly escalates to a vast conspiracy designed to change England and murder millions. Rhys sees Mina and wants her. Mina is much more wary. This was an excellent story with two great characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member stephxsu
In alternate-world Europe, the mysterious Iron Duke, Rhys Trahaearn, freed England from the Horde’s centuries-long control. In the nine years since the monumental event, times have changed, but very much for Inspector Mina Wentworth, whose Horde blood makes her life difficult.
When Mina’s latest
Oh my gosh. I am head over heels for this book. Besides for being a hot and lingering read, THE IRON DUKE is also a stellar example of steampunk worldbuilding, and is a book that I know I will be returning to for years to come.
THE IRON DUKE is without a doubt the most well written steampunk novel that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. This is steampunk at its finest: an alternate-history England where man and machine cannot live without the other, where Meljean Brook unfolds scene after scene, detail after detail so elegantly one begins to wonder how this world could NOT exist.
Rhys and Mina are a pretty standard romance coupling, particularly Rhys as the dark, damaged, and very male love interest, but it is Mina who steals the show. Mina’s physical differences from most other Londoners ensured that she grew up quickly and does not easily trust people. Her outsider status, even among the people she’s lived with her whole life, captured my sympathies, and I was rooting hard for her the entire time to finally find acceptance and happiness.
THE IRON DUKE does not belong in the genre of books that I usually review, and as a result it’s hard for me to talk about why it’s so good. But mark my very inadequate words: if you like romance, and if you like steampunk, then you can’t get much better than this first book in Meljean Brook’s fascinating new series. I am so buying the next book as soon as it comes out.
When Mina’s latest
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case throws her and the Iron Duke together, they discover a plan that will be deadly to most of the British population, and are forced to cooperate with each other as they journey through Europe to stop the conspirators before it’s too late. Further complications ensue, however, when they cannot fight their attraction to one another…Oh my gosh. I am head over heels for this book. Besides for being a hot and lingering read, THE IRON DUKE is also a stellar example of steampunk worldbuilding, and is a book that I know I will be returning to for years to come.
THE IRON DUKE is without a doubt the most well written steampunk novel that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. This is steampunk at its finest: an alternate-history England where man and machine cannot live without the other, where Meljean Brook unfolds scene after scene, detail after detail so elegantly one begins to wonder how this world could NOT exist.
Rhys and Mina are a pretty standard romance coupling, particularly Rhys as the dark, damaged, and very male love interest, but it is Mina who steals the show. Mina’s physical differences from most other Londoners ensured that she grew up quickly and does not easily trust people. Her outsider status, even among the people she’s lived with her whole life, captured my sympathies, and I was rooting hard for her the entire time to finally find acceptance and happiness.
THE IRON DUKE does not belong in the genre of books that I usually review, and as a result it’s hard for me to talk about why it’s so good. But mark my very inadequate words: if you like romance, and if you like steampunk, then you can’t get much better than this first book in Meljean Brook’s fascinating new series. I am so buying the next book as soon as it comes out.
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LibraryThing member SmashAttack
What an interesting world the author has created! I was quite fascinated with the steampunk technology, automatons, nanoagents, mechanical flesh (say what?), zombies, eyes that can detect temperature and therefore, detect lies, iron bones, and of course, the fantastic manners, fashion and language
The two main characters, Mina and Rhys, are both very interesting characters. Mina has an ugly history and has done everything in her power to overcome her tragic background. Rhys is used to getting his way, and immediately lusts for Mina,…
"The first opportunity he got, Rhys was going to shag her blind."
who wants nothing to do with him sexually – at first.
"He focused on the inspector, instead, though she didn't want him watching her. But Rhys liked the way she looked, particularly when her expression suggested that she'd prefer to have a gun aimed at his head rather than sit across from him in a private railcar."
Rhys refuses to be ignored and turned away, and a hot pursuit ensues. Both characters struggle with their emotions for one another, and I enjoyed the internal fight that both characters experience. It was very apparent that they would resist their connection until the very end, and boy was it fun watching them go back and forth between love and hate.
"Confounding woman. He wanted to drag her close and kiss her senseless."
Near the end, Rhys fights tooth and nail for her honor yet Mina still resists his affection for various reasons. It is so heartbreaking and a specific scene practically brought me to tears.
I really enjoyed the social issues brought to light, and always appreciate an author who is willing and courageous enough to ‘speak out’ in such a way. Issues of discrimination, racism, classism, power struggles, and sexism dominate this world. Mina and Rhys deal with various levels of these issues and you can see how easily these things destroy lives.
If you plan to pick this up because you need a light, easy read - think again. The story is quite intriguing and moves at a quick pace, leaving the reader a tad confused with all of the terms, characters and schemes occurring. There is a lot going on, which keeps you on your toes. Your attention is most definitely needed.
A major thanks to Meljean for her way with words, intense imagination, fabulous characterization, incredible worldbuilding and slap-yo-ass sex scenes. I wholeheartedly love the steampunk genre and must make a better attempt to read it
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of Victorian/Edwardian England.The two main characters, Mina and Rhys, are both very interesting characters. Mina has an ugly history and has done everything in her power to overcome her tragic background. Rhys is used to getting his way, and immediately lusts for Mina,…
"The first opportunity he got, Rhys was going to shag her blind."
who wants nothing to do with him sexually – at first.
"He focused on the inspector, instead, though she didn't want him watching her. But Rhys liked the way she looked, particularly when her expression suggested that she'd prefer to have a gun aimed at his head rather than sit across from him in a private railcar."
Rhys refuses to be ignored and turned away, and a hot pursuit ensues. Both characters struggle with their emotions for one another, and I enjoyed the internal fight that both characters experience. It was very apparent that they would resist their connection until the very end, and boy was it fun watching them go back and forth between love and hate.
"Confounding woman. He wanted to drag her close and kiss her senseless."
Near the end, Rhys fights tooth and nail for her honor yet Mina still resists his affection for various reasons. It is so heartbreaking and a specific scene practically brought me to tears.
I really enjoyed the social issues brought to light, and always appreciate an author who is willing and courageous enough to ‘speak out’ in such a way. Issues of discrimination, racism, classism, power struggles, and sexism dominate this world. Mina and Rhys deal with various levels of these issues and you can see how easily these things destroy lives.
If you plan to pick this up because you need a light, easy read - think again. The story is quite intriguing and moves at a quick pace, leaving the reader a tad confused with all of the terms, characters and schemes occurring. There is a lot going on, which keeps you on your toes. Your attention is most definitely needed.
A major thanks to Meljean for her way with words, intense imagination, fabulous characterization, incredible worldbuilding and slap-yo-ass sex scenes. I wholeheartedly love the steampunk genre and must make a better attempt to read it
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LibraryThing member booksandbutter
This is not my typical genre of book that I choose to read. However, after the first chapter or two, the story and the characters engaged me and I wanted to see where it was going. I really enjoyed this book.
LibraryThing member kayceel
Completely awesome - the world=-building in this books is seamless and fascinating! England was controlled for two hundred years by the Horde, who infected the English with nanoagents that could be controlled by radio devices. The Iron Duke - pirate, 'privateer', merchant - destroyed the Horde's
Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth meets the Iron Duke when a body is dropped on his front steps. He is instantly drawn to her, but she avoids his interest as being a poor member of the peerage who happens to have Horde blood in her veins, she's forced to suffer racism daily - a dalliance with the Iron Duke would cement her reputation as a whore in others' eyes and make it impossible for her to continue in her job, which would in turn remove a paycheck necessary to her family.
Nevertheless, she must continue the investigation, which takes them out to sea and to zombie-invested jungles to discover the persons behind the murder.
Very sexy, yes, but also VERY cool, this is an awesome scifi-steampunk adventure!
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hold over England and is seen as a hero by all of England, both those forced to stay when the Horde invaded, and those families wealthy enough to escape before and who have since returned.Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth meets the Iron Duke when a body is dropped on his front steps. He is instantly drawn to her, but she avoids his interest as being a poor member of the peerage who happens to have Horde blood in her veins, she's forced to suffer racism daily - a dalliance with the Iron Duke would cement her reputation as a whore in others' eyes and make it impossible for her to continue in her job, which would in turn remove a paycheck necessary to her family.
Nevertheless, she must continue the investigation, which takes them out to sea and to zombie-invested jungles to discover the persons behind the murder.
Very sexy, yes, but also VERY cool, this is an awesome scifi-steampunk adventure!
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LibraryThing member ABookwormsHaven
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
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!
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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!
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LibraryThing member hoosgracie
I LOVED this book. It's Steampunk and alternate history - England has only just come out from oppression by the Hoarde. The titular character saved England when he destroyed the tower that controlled people. The characters were great as was the world. Highly Recommend.
LibraryThing member ninadangelo
Hated this book and just found myself unable to get into the storyline, enjoy the characters or even finish it.
LibraryThing member Bodagirl
Loved the world the Brook created, and the love story did not overwhelm the action.
LibraryThing member Shaiha
I first ran across Ms. Brook in an anthology that had one of her steampunk novella and was rather impressed so I immediately put this book on my wish list. When I first started reading it however I was disappointed. The beginning was rather slow and well dragged. It wouldn't be the first time that
However this is one of those times that I am really glad that persevered. Once this book picked up it really picked up. The story became fast-paced with all kinds of twists and turns. I really enjoyed reading about some of the inventions in this world such as the metalmen and the butterflies.
But what really made this book was the love story between Mina and Rhys. He was all ready to go full steam ahead and possess Mina but was willing to slow way down and help her conquer some pretty severe fears. For a man that had no idea about the softer emotions, he really impressed me by his willingness to learn.
The ending was satisfying as far as Mina and Rhys' story arc. However there were a lot of loose ends that weren't tied up. I am hoping that those will be addressed in a future story. I do feel that this is an interesting world however for the reasons that I already noted I can only rate this book a 3.
*This book is one that I purchased.
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an author does really great novellas but are not able to translate into great novels.However this is one of those times that I am really glad that persevered. Once this book picked up it really picked up. The story became fast-paced with all kinds of twists and turns. I really enjoyed reading about some of the inventions in this world such as the metalmen and the butterflies.
But what really made this book was the love story between Mina and Rhys. He was all ready to go full steam ahead and possess Mina but was willing to slow way down and help her conquer some pretty severe fears. For a man that had no idea about the softer emotions, he really impressed me by his willingness to learn.
The ending was satisfying as far as Mina and Rhys' story arc. However there were a lot of loose ends that weren't tied up. I am hoping that those will be addressed in a future story. I do feel that this is an interesting world however for the reasons that I already noted I can only rate this book a 3.
*This book is one that I purchased.
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LibraryThing member Robreads
Excellent world-building in a dark steampunk romance.
LibraryThing member DarlenesBookNook
I received this audiobook for review from Penguin Audio. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.
This is my first foray into the steampunk genre! For those who are as unfamiliar with the genre as I am, here is the definition from Wikipedia:
In other words, the book has an historical feel to it but with futuristic (sci-fi) inventions.
The book takes place in Victorian-era England. The book refers to a group called “The Horde” and, if my understanding is correct, I believe this refers to the Golden Horde if my sleuthing skills on Wikipedia steered me in the right direction! As for how historically accurate the book is, I cannot comment. Getting back to the story: The Horde hid nano-agents in every day food items such as tea and sugar. Nothing happened to the people who became infected with the nano-agents, until The Horde activated the bugs and were able to take control of the people by emitting frequency signals through large radio towers. During this period, there were times known as “The Frenzy” when people had no control of their emotions and sexual urges.
Enter the Iron Duke, aka Rhys Trahaearn (former pirate), who frees England from The Horde’s control by destroying the tower.
The book starts off with Detective Inspector Wilhelmina ("Mina") Wentworth called to a crime scene at the Iron Duke’s home, where a dead body has been dropped on his doorstep from an airship. In a nutshell, Mina and Rhys work together to try to find out who is behind the murder.
This book was hard for me to get into because there was some terminology used that I was unfamiliar with: The Horde, bounders, buggers. I was so confused that I felt like I needed a glossary! Added to this, the narrator (Faye Adele) has a very strong British accent that I found difficult to understand at times. When she pronounced “Trahaearn,” it sounded to be me like “Johann,” so I actually thought that the Iron Duke/Rhys and Trahaearn were two different people! I became so confused that I requested the book from the library so that I could flip through it. For inquiring minds that want to know: buggers are those who were infected by the nano-agents or “bugs” during the period of the Horde occupation; bounders are the ones who were able to flee England before the Horde took control and have returned now that the Iron Duke has freed England.
As I became used to Adele’s accent and started to understand what was going on, I began to enjoy the story.
I really like Mina: She’s a strong heroine, fiercely loyal to her family, and puts all others before herself. Her mother was raped by a Mongol during one the Horde “frenzies,” and Mina was conceived as a result of this. After Mina’s birth, her mother scratched her own eyes out (literally) when she saw that Mina’s features resembled those of her biological father. As a result, Mina’s upbringing wasn’t easy. Even as an adult, she is taunted and sometimes attacked which is why she must always be accompanied by Constable Newberry who acts not only as her assistant but also her bodyguard. I was actually rooting for her not to fall in love with the Iron Duke because I didn’t care for him at all. I was hoping Mina would fall for Newberry instead! I thought the Iron Duke was extremely brazen, arrogant, and pushy! I must admit, though, their love scenes were hot!
I was very excited when I read in the synopsis that the book contained zombies, but they really play a very minor role in this book. If you are looking for a zombie novel, this one will not satiate your appetite.
Brook has created a very clever world, and I love her use of nanotechnology. However, I wish that there had been more “world-building” in the beginning. I felt thrust into this unknown territory and had trouble at first following and embracing the story.
Despite my rocky start with the book, I did end up enjoying it and am looking forward to listening to the next audiobook in the series!
MY RATING: 3 stars!
This is my first foray into the steampunk genre! For those who are as unfamiliar with the genre as I am, here is the definition from Wikipedia:
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“Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.[1] Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United States—that incorporates elements of either science fiction or fantasy.“In other words, the book has an historical feel to it but with futuristic (sci-fi) inventions.
The book takes place in Victorian-era England. The book refers to a group called “The Horde” and, if my understanding is correct, I believe this refers to the Golden Horde if my sleuthing skills on Wikipedia steered me in the right direction! As for how historically accurate the book is, I cannot comment. Getting back to the story: The Horde hid nano-agents in every day food items such as tea and sugar. Nothing happened to the people who became infected with the nano-agents, until The Horde activated the bugs and were able to take control of the people by emitting frequency signals through large radio towers. During this period, there were times known as “The Frenzy” when people had no control of their emotions and sexual urges.
Enter the Iron Duke, aka Rhys Trahaearn (former pirate), who frees England from The Horde’s control by destroying the tower.
The book starts off with Detective Inspector Wilhelmina ("Mina") Wentworth called to a crime scene at the Iron Duke’s home, where a dead body has been dropped on his doorstep from an airship. In a nutshell, Mina and Rhys work together to try to find out who is behind the murder.
This book was hard for me to get into because there was some terminology used that I was unfamiliar with: The Horde, bounders, buggers. I was so confused that I felt like I needed a glossary! Added to this, the narrator (Faye Adele) has a very strong British accent that I found difficult to understand at times. When she pronounced “Trahaearn,” it sounded to be me like “Johann,” so I actually thought that the Iron Duke/Rhys and Trahaearn were two different people! I became so confused that I requested the book from the library so that I could flip through it. For inquiring minds that want to know: buggers are those who were infected by the nano-agents or “bugs” during the period of the Horde occupation; bounders are the ones who were able to flee England before the Horde took control and have returned now that the Iron Duke has freed England.
As I became used to Adele’s accent and started to understand what was going on, I began to enjoy the story.
I really like Mina: She’s a strong heroine, fiercely loyal to her family, and puts all others before herself. Her mother was raped by a Mongol during one the Horde “frenzies,” and Mina was conceived as a result of this. After Mina’s birth, her mother scratched her own eyes out (literally) when she saw that Mina’s features resembled those of her biological father. As a result, Mina’s upbringing wasn’t easy. Even as an adult, she is taunted and sometimes attacked which is why she must always be accompanied by Constable Newberry who acts not only as her assistant but also her bodyguard. I was actually rooting for her not to fall in love with the Iron Duke because I didn’t care for him at all. I was hoping Mina would fall for Newberry instead! I thought the Iron Duke was extremely brazen, arrogant, and pushy! I must admit, though, their love scenes were hot!
I was very excited when I read in the synopsis that the book contained zombies, but they really play a very minor role in this book. If you are looking for a zombie novel, this one will not satiate your appetite.
Brook has created a very clever world, and I love her use of nanotechnology. However, I wish that there had been more “world-building” in the beginning. I felt thrust into this unknown territory and had trouble at first following and embracing the story.
Despite my rocky start with the book, I did end up enjoying it and am looking forward to listening to the next audiobook in the series!
MY RATING: 3 stars!
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LibraryThing member lauren.castan
Could this be my ultimate holiday mind candy? A steamy regency romance crossed with sci fi robotics = steampunk fun. On to the sequel.
LibraryThing member Ridley_
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
The story takes place nine years after Rhys Trahaearn, now known as the Iron Duke, blows up the tower, freeing all of Britain from Horde control. After a bloody revolution where a mad populace attacked the Horde and each other in a fury borne of a lifetime of tight control suddenly ended, Britain is at a crossroads. The descendants of the wealthy Brits who fled England before they were infected have returned, creating tension between the infected "buggers" and the uninfected "bounders" as to who has more right to Britain. Does it belong to the people who spent the past few hundred years hiding out in Manhattan City in the New World, or to those who endured and overcame Horde rule, but will always be susceptible to control because of their bugs?
In the midst of this heady drama, a body literally lands on the Iron Duke's front steps and Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth is called in to investigate. Born after a "Frenzy," where a Horde signal causes all buggers to copulate with each other, she's the half-breed daughter of a English countess and a Horde member who was at the state dinner her mother was attending. Though her parents are noble and she's a distinguished member of the Metropolitan Police force, she encounters constant abuse due to her Asian features. As a result, she's a bit like Eve Dallas - a big squishy ball of insecurities well hidden under a granite facade. Through the love of her supportive family and a singular dedication to her work, she gets by in a world she feels completely apart from.
Working on the mystery of the body tossed onto the Iron Duke's steps tests her resolve. As a former pirate, Rhys is accustomed to taking whatever it is her desires, and he decides that Mina will be his latest acquisition. As they fly and sail around England, Europe and Africa unraveling the murder mystery and uncovering a doomsday plot that endangers all the buggers in Britain, the two also are working to figure each other out. Rhys is determined to have her, and Mina is determined to resist him, lest everything she or her family has worked for go up in smoke in the subsequent mockery of the Iron Duke taking up with a "Jade whore."
The world-building was superbly done, creating a full, complex world and divulging it at a natural pace throughout the book. All of the secondary characters were fully-fleshed out, providing bits of humor, drama, action and everything in-between when the plot required it but without feeling convenient. The action keeps a steady, energetic pace throughout the book, making it a hard book to put down at times. Brook has created a stunning steampunk setting that's creative and expansive while remaining entirely accessible. There are easily drawn parallels to our own world and the messy politics of today without anything being obvious, sanctimonious or preachy. It's complex enough a world to let you forge your own theories of what is afoot, and approachable enough that you'd want to do so.
While I loved the steampunk aspects quite a bit, the romance didn't move me. There was just something about the romance that left me kinda cold. I almost resented the breaks in the action plot and half-skimmed the sex. Their emotions towards each other felt a bit forced, so I felt like a voyeur watching them together. The sex didn't seem to be resolving a tension between them - anguish over memories of a past Frenzy notwithstanding - and so it felt gratuitous.
Part of the issue might have been that I didn't feel I really knew Rhys or Mina. I loved them as catalysts for the action - Rhys the alpha, protecting what he considers his and Mina the fighter, always trying to forge order from chaos - but didn't get a good feel for them as humans. I was told that Rhys "respected the hell out of" Mina, but I was never really shown why. What made her so special to him? What about Rhys tempted Mina? I needed to see more talking, vulnerability and emotional intimacy between them. As it was, I was told they were hot for each other, and I watched them bone, and that was the romance.
As a romance, it lacks a certain something. As a straight sci-fi, I think I'd have loved this book unreservedly. The world she's created and the secondary characters she populated it with are absolutely spellbinding. For all its faults, it was still a hard book to put down. I'm certainly itching to read the sequel a year from now.
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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 allowed a wide range of prosthetic enhancements, the downside was that the Horde could control the infected via a radio frequency transmitted by a tall tower in London.The story takes place nine years after Rhys Trahaearn, now known as the Iron Duke, blows up the tower, freeing all of Britain from Horde control. After a bloody revolution where a mad populace attacked the Horde and each other in a fury borne of a lifetime of tight control suddenly ended, Britain is at a crossroads. The descendants of the wealthy Brits who fled England before they were infected have returned, creating tension between the infected "buggers" and the uninfected "bounders" as to who has more right to Britain. Does it belong to the people who spent the past few hundred years hiding out in Manhattan City in the New World, or to those who endured and overcame Horde rule, but will always be susceptible to control because of their bugs?
In the midst of this heady drama, a body literally lands on the Iron Duke's front steps and Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth is called in to investigate. Born after a "Frenzy," where a Horde signal causes all buggers to copulate with each other, she's the half-breed daughter of a English countess and a Horde member who was at the state dinner her mother was attending. Though her parents are noble and she's a distinguished member of the Metropolitan Police force, she encounters constant abuse due to her Asian features. As a result, she's a bit like Eve Dallas - a big squishy ball of insecurities well hidden under a granite facade. Through the love of her supportive family and a singular dedication to her work, she gets by in a world she feels completely apart from.
Working on the mystery of the body tossed onto the Iron Duke's steps tests her resolve. As a former pirate, Rhys is accustomed to taking whatever it is her desires, and he decides that Mina will be his latest acquisition. As they fly and sail around England, Europe and Africa unraveling the murder mystery and uncovering a doomsday plot that endangers all the buggers in Britain, the two also are working to figure each other out. Rhys is determined to have her, and Mina is determined to resist him, lest everything she or her family has worked for go up in smoke in the subsequent mockery of the Iron Duke taking up with a "Jade whore."
The world-building was superbly done, creating a full, complex world and divulging it at a natural pace throughout the book. All of the secondary characters were fully-fleshed out, providing bits of humor, drama, action and everything in-between when the plot required it but without feeling convenient. The action keeps a steady, energetic pace throughout the book, making it a hard book to put down at times. Brook has created a stunning steampunk setting that's creative and expansive while remaining entirely accessible. There are easily drawn parallels to our own world and the messy politics of today without anything being obvious, sanctimonious or preachy. It's complex enough a world to let you forge your own theories of what is afoot, and approachable enough that you'd want to do so.
While I loved the steampunk aspects quite a bit, the romance didn't move me. There was just something about the romance that left me kinda cold. I almost resented the breaks in the action plot and half-skimmed the sex. Their emotions towards each other felt a bit forced, so I felt like a voyeur watching them together. The sex didn't seem to be resolving a tension between them - anguish over memories of a past Frenzy notwithstanding - and so it felt gratuitous.
Part of the issue might have been that I didn't feel I really knew Rhys or Mina. I loved them as catalysts for the action - Rhys the alpha, protecting what he considers his and Mina the fighter, always trying to forge order from chaos - but didn't get a good feel for them as humans. I was told that Rhys "respected the hell out of" Mina, but I was never really shown why. What made her so special to him? What about Rhys tempted Mina? I needed to see more talking, vulnerability and emotional intimacy between them. As it was, I was told they were hot for each other, and I watched them bone, and that was the romance.
As a romance, it lacks a certain something. As a straight sci-fi, I think I'd have loved this book unreservedly. The world she's created and the secondary characters she populated it with are absolutely spellbinding. For all its faults, it was still a hard book to put down. I'm certainly itching to read the sequel a year from now.
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LibraryThing member SamM4
This is a wonderful steampunk romp. We are introduced to bounders, buggers, a kraken, some armour-plated sharks, lots of aristocrats and a few poor people, and there is much dashing derring-do on the high seas, on land and while dangling from airships. I enjoyed this more than I should have done.
LibraryThing member pollywannabook
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Take the romance and adventure of The Princess Bride, the swashbuckling action of The Pirates of the Caribbean, mix them together in a zombie infested steampunk England and you get THE IRON DUKE.
The steampunk and paranormal subgenres have been combining
The world building was especially fascinating as it followed England’s struggle to reform society after destroying a totalitarian regime where the citizens were physically and emotionally controlled (via the nanites infesting their systems) by the enigmatic Horde. My one real complaint about this book is the vague explanation of this group.
But no complaints about the characters. Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth is the bastard offspring result of her mother’s rape by the Horde and the stigma of her birth has made her a social pariah who fights unwaveringly to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Whereas The Iron Duke is a pirate turned national hero because of his role in destroying The Horde. He’s a rogue through and through. Yet when he meets Mina, he is taken by her intellect and character long before he realizes anything about her appearance. A rather innocuous event sparks awareness between these two and from then on The Iron Duke pursues Mina with a determination that would be almost frightening in its intensity if it weren’t so hot.
Overall, THE IRON DUKE is a superb steampunk romance with just enough paranormal elements to satisfy a diehard supernatural junkie like me. I knew how awesome it was when I waited all of ten seconds after finishing it to download the companion story in the anthology BURNING UP. I’m sure I’ll show equal restraint the moment I can get my hand on the next Iron Seas novel.
Sexual Content: References to homosexuality. Vague references to child prostitution. Vague references to forced orgies. Several graphic sex scenes.
Take the romance and adventure of The Princess Bride, the swashbuckling action of The Pirates of the Caribbean, mix them together in a zombie infested steampunk England and you get THE IRON DUKE.
The steampunk and paranormal subgenres have been combining
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with great success lately, The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger, and The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare, and now THE IRON DUKE is the latest title to blend these two genres together in an eerily familiar yet wholly other England, with a sweeping romance that crosses social classes, blood borne nanites, ingenious mechanisms, and truly creepy zombies. What’s not to love?The world building was especially fascinating as it followed England’s struggle to reform society after destroying a totalitarian regime where the citizens were physically and emotionally controlled (via the nanites infesting their systems) by the enigmatic Horde. My one real complaint about this book is the vague explanation of this group.
But no complaints about the characters. Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth is the bastard offspring result of her mother’s rape by the Horde and the stigma of her birth has made her a social pariah who fights unwaveringly to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Whereas The Iron Duke is a pirate turned national hero because of his role in destroying The Horde. He’s a rogue through and through. Yet when he meets Mina, he is taken by her intellect and character long before he realizes anything about her appearance. A rather innocuous event sparks awareness between these two and from then on The Iron Duke pursues Mina with a determination that would be almost frightening in its intensity if it weren’t so hot.
Overall, THE IRON DUKE is a superb steampunk romance with just enough paranormal elements to satisfy a diehard supernatural junkie like me. I knew how awesome it was when I waited all of ten seconds after finishing it to download the companion story in the anthology BURNING UP. I’m sure I’ll show equal restraint the moment I can get my hand on the next Iron Seas novel.
Sexual Content: References to homosexuality. Vague references to child prostitution. Vague references to forced orgies. Several graphic sex scenes.
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Awards
Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award (Winner — Paranormal Romance — 2010)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Romance — 2011)
Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year (Romance — 2010)
AAR Annual Reader Poll (2011)
Original publication date
2010-10-05
Physical description
384 p.; 5.51 inches
ISBN
0425236676 / 9780425236673