Audiobook Review: The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

Narrated by Faye Adele

Series: The Iron Seas #1

The Iron Duke

The Iron Seas #2

Heart Of Steel

The Iron Seas Novellas

Here There Be Monsters

The Blushing Bounder

Genre: Steam-punk, romance

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Released: 1st November 2011

Length: 13 hrs and 23 minutes

Buy Link

Audible

Synopsis From Goodreads  

First in an all-new series where seductive danger and steampunk adventure abound in the gritty world of the Iron Seas.

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans-and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen, as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.

 My Thoughts After and During Listening: 

Have you ever read a book that you love so much that you had to HAVE it in every format that is out there? I have, there aren't many of them but the few I found I try have them in every format that is available. The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook is one of them. After reading the book on 2011, I fell in love with the story and it's characters immediately. And yes, I have all three formats, paperback, ebook and the audiobook.

I think I say enough times just how much I love this book. The series is another matter. But this book in particular is one of my personal favorite. Meljean is an awesome story teller, there are content in this book that is considered to be not suitable for everyone. Even so this book is worth every penny. I loved listening to The Iron Duke in Faye Adele's voice. Her narration of this time takes you to the world of The Iron Duke with Rhys and Mina. Around chapter 22 to 23 I needed to turn the fan up, if I thought reading about Rhys and Mina's love scene was hot of boy was I mistaken. Listening to Mina and Rhys, dear-god-my-ears-are-bright-red-and-i-don't-mind-dying-from-sheer-embarrassment. 

Finally, recommended to anyone who reads steam-punk romance.

I give this

About this author

Meljean Brook was raised in the middle of the woods, and hid under her blankets at night with fairy tales, comic books, and romances. She left the forest and went on a misguided tour through the world of accounting before focusing on her first loves, reading and writing–and she realized that monsters, superheroes, and happily-ever-afters are easily found between the covers, as well as under them, so she set out to make her own.

Find out more about Meljean Brook from her website / goodreads / blog / facebook / twitter

Review: Heart Of Steel by Meljean Brook

Heart Of Steel by Meljean Brook

Series: The Iron Seas #2

Genre: Stempunk, Sci-fi, Romance

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Released: November 1, 2011

My copy: ebook

Buy Links

Amazon

Barnes & Nobel

The Iron Seas #1

The Iron Duke

Book synopsis from goodreads

Return to the gritty, alluring world of steampunk with the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Duke.  Growing up in the dangerous world of the Iron Seas, the mercenary captain of the airship Lady Corsair, Yasmeen, has learned to keep her heart hard as steel. Ruthless and cunning, her only loyalty is to her ship and her crew-until one man comes along and changes everything...Treasurehunter Archimedes Fox isn't interested in the Lady Corsair-just the captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. When it attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco- and straight into enemy hands.

My thoughts

It's been almost a year long wait after The Iron Duke release. After so anticipated wait for Heart Of Steel to come out, I have to say it was not disappointing. 

What I loved most about this book is Meljean Brook's word building and characters. Iron Seas is known for it's strong female role and Heart Of Steel is no different. Yasmeen or Captain Corsair is met with a tragedy in the very beginning which makes her team up with a very unlikely Archimedes Fox. 

Captain Corsair has made quite a name for herself with her tales. Her ship Lady Corsair is one of her greatest possession and something she deeply loves. However she doesn't let any man in on her heart.

As for Archimedes Fox, he  is hell bent to falling in love with her even if she doesn't return the sentiment. Archimedes is an adventurer and all he wants from Yasmeen is to let him love her. At the beginning of the agreement everything seem easy enough to Archimedes until finally he realized how much it would hurt if Yasmeen breaks his heart. 

Archimedes is not the alpha male we read about in stories, but he is capable of taking control. Just not when it comes to Yasmeen. His promise to let her be and he wouldn't undermine her stands till the very end. Even though Archimedes seems like an unlikely hero for Yasmeen, he was in many ways as Captain Corsair says, "Perfect for each other." 

Heart Of Steel was not heartbreaking like The Iron Duke, it had more humor in it. So the book ended with me smiling and not sobbing.

The cover still not an improvement in my opinion. The man candy was okay to look at but the cover just lacks the depth of the story.

Recommended to all who loves reading about Zombies, steampunk and romance.

I give this

 

Find out more about Meljean Brook from her
website/facebook/twitter