Steampunk romance, hmmmmm?

Well, it was free, it was a 'teaser' and I thought I'd give it a try, since the author has some good reviews.

Overall: I liked it! It's not just romance; there's some good action going on here.

Geraldine and Helene are traveling via airship to reunite with Helene's husband. Geraldine is incognito - she doesn't want anyone to know she's the popular adventure author Zenobia Fox - OR who her secret-agent brother is. After all, she's been kidnapped multiple times before. (I assume there are prequels to this story).

However, the airship comes under attack and they have to bail out. Luckily, they're rescued by a super-hot Asian warlord, Ariq.

Ariq and Zenobia's meeting-scene was actually pretty hot. Good job.

However, the way the romance began to progress was a bit too typical/conventional. The bad-ass, outside-the-law guy cared a bit too much whether Zenobia was married or not. And the whole 'misunderstandings caused by lack of communication' thing felt... done before.

This is not a complete story, so there's no resolution (or any sex scenes), but since this was a teaser, I wasn't really expecting either.

I'd read more by the author... ( )

My first experience with series books, I was a bit confused by the sort length of this tidbit tease. After I figured it out, that the book is released in short installments quicker than waiting for the whole novel I warmed to the idea. The price is about the same and the wait is much shorter=bonus. I still would prefer to have the whole book in hand but if I have addiction issues to the story I want it asap and this would be a much nicer way than waiting a year or more.
Zenobia the strong willed independent woman with much to hide runs into the most dangerous man in the Horde rebellion. He rescues her from an attack on her ship and wisps her away where he may or may not have tangling in the sheets on his mind. They have a lot in common. She is stubborn, so is he, she is smart, as is he, she likes to study motives, and he does too, they also both want each other, but they don’t, they both have enemies and they may be the same.
There is a full arrangement of cool mechanical tools in this steampunk book. I loved the armored kraken the best. Flying ships, gliders and riders. It was a pirate ship adventure as well as steampunk experience.
Readers of Steampunk, romance and adventure will enjoy this series. I don’t know if I will continue the series I liked it but did not connect with the characters in the short bit i had to read. ( )

Joint review on Part I and II with Victoria

Karina:

What an amazing beginning of the serial! I honestly do not mind paying more for excellent writing for that - sharp, tantalizing, vivid and humorous. Zenobia and Ariq are going to be a powerful mix, one of the best couples in Iron Seas if the first installment is any indication of how it's going to proceed. *grinning* This is just their first meet and the beginning of the journey, and it's choke full of adventure and excitement. Get ready for airship, pirates and plenty for sexual tension, - it's going to be a bumpy ride!

Vika:

These were a total tease!

Now, I haven’t read Meljean Brook’s books before. *looks ashamed* I should have, I know. If anything, it would’ve been helpful to have some background on the fictional world of Iron Seas, which is clearly complex and interesting; instead I was feeling a bit lost. But, aside from my lack of familiarity, the characters really grabbed me. They splashed on the scene and were instantaneously vivid. The tension between the main couple was palpable and I couldn’t help but smirk and giggle over their banter. I too, as Zenobia, loved Ariq’s blunt style – he was not wasting any time, but making his desires known upfront, which both appalled and attracted Zenobia to him.

Overall, it was a great, action-packed read, and I’m definitely curious to know more!

"Your husband isn't with you."
"No."
"Is he a fool?"
"no. He is dead." Zenobia expected some response to that announcement - sympathy, surprise - but she hasn't anticipated the

governor's smile. "That pleases you?"
"Are you still in mourning?"
"No."
"Then it pleases me. I feared I was too late."
"For what?" she had to ask. Her heart thudded when he stepped closer.
His voice lowered. "On the flyer, I liked the feel of you against me. Now I'd like to feel you beneath me."
( )

Esta é a primeira parte de um conjunto de oito que formam o livro "The Kraken King". O livro será publicado de forma serializada entre 15 de Abril e 3 de Junho.

O bom dos livros desta série é, entre tantas outras coisas, poderem ser lido de forma independente sem que isso afecte a compreensão do universo. Mesmo assim não pude deixar de sorrir quando, tal como no livro "[b:Heart of Steel|10558533|Heart of Steel (Iron Seas, #2)|Meljean Brook|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1307582794s/10558533.jpg|14654952]", este começa com uma das maravilhosas cartas trocadas entre a Zenobia Fox e o seu irmão.
Zenobia é a protagonista da história e ela é a solteirona escritora enfadada com a vida que leva. Decide então aceitar o convite de uma amiga para visitar o Japão, onde o marido desta é diplomata e, quando estavam a chegar ao continente australiano, a euronave onde viajavam é atacada e a aventura começa.
Mais não vou contar porque nada como ser surpreendido ao ler um livro mas, posso revelar que há ligações muito interessantes com o que aconteceu no "[b:Heart of Steel|10558533|Heart of Steel (Iron Seas, #2)|Meljean Brook|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1307582794s/10558533.jpg|14654952]", temos uma outra perspectiva sobre o Império Mongol (talvez a mais próxima que tivemos até ao momento), mais aventura, pontuada de momentos de atracção entre o par romântico, sem exageros.
Tudo isto em 8 capítulos. Sim, esta primeira parte revelou-se maior do que eu esperava.
Sobre o Ariq, o interesse romântico de Zenobia, nada vou revelar porque ele é assim tão interessante.
Mal posso esperar pelo resto! ( )

sigh.. two more days ( )