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The Iron Duke (Iron Seas, #1)

Meljean Brook

Start date: August 1, 2011

Finish date: August 31, 2011

Discussion: Book of the Month

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* BOM: Group Read History [2025]
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last updated Mar 15, 2012 06:15PM

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What Members Thought

Jan 16, 2011 D.G. rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewed, steampunk

This is a disappointed 3-star rating.

I loved the prequel and had great expectations for this book. I was dying to learn more about this world that Ms. Brooks put together but instead I found plot holes the size of krakens.

I didn’t expect to learn everything but at least I wanted more background on the Horde, specially why they kept the ‘buggers’ in England. Once I realized the extent of their technology – they could implant nanoagents that could control people, for God’s sakes – I didn't underst This is a disappointed 3-star rating.

I loved the prequel and had great expectations for this book. I was dying to learn more about this world that Ms. Brooks put together but instead I found plot holes the size of krakens.

I didn’t expect to learn everything but at least I wanted more background on the Horde, specially why they kept the ‘buggers’ in England. Once I realized the extent of their technology – they could implant nanoagents that could control people, for God’s sakes – I didn't understand why the English people were so important that they were allowed to live...and in their own country no less! If the Horde really wanted to have the Island, the most expedient thing would have been to follow the example of the tribes of yore: you kill all the men and rape the women. Then in a generation everybody in England has Horde blood, you destroy their culture and 200 years later, nobody even remembers the English. It’s what I would have done if I had this kind of technology and wanted to dominate the world. (I guess that’s why my husband says I’m bloodthirsty.)

Instead, the Horde chooses to keep the English as sort of slaves, abolishing some of their rights but keeping them aware that they weren’t ‘master of their domain.’ What did the English have that made them more important alive than dead? That’s never explained. If I’d been at the realm and had to keep somebody, I’d definitely have chosen the French (after all, they have a way with wine) but instead, the Horde fills Europe full of zombies so they can use machines to cultivate the land without having those pesky Europeans around (which can’t live there because of the zombies, you know.) Of course, this means that the Horde cannot live there either. Wouldn’t it have made more sense for the Horde to just move in? It’s not as if there weren’t any people in their Empire (which at its zenith had a population of 100 million) and some of them lived in pretty rough environments. I guess it never occurred to the technologically advanced Horde that some of its people would have preferred living in Tuscany than freezing their ass in Siberia.

Then, I found the main couple completely unremarkable. The heroine had a martyr complex – she’s always sacrificing herself – and I hated how the author created a conflict based on race issues but then danced around it by not even describing the heroine and then having the big conflict resolved almost overnight. Because Jackie Robinson proved that you can change people’s minds by having a good month at the plate.

I have more issues with the plot but I’m tired of complaining. Given how much I liked the prequel, I *may* give the second book a try but needless to say, I won’t be jumping to buy it as soon as it comes out. ...more

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May 13, 2011 Thenia rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, series, reviewed, historical-romance, 2014, r-ab, steampunk

An original story that I'm not quite sure how to review.

I was drawn into the story at first, wanting to know more about both the strong and unusual heroine (view spoiler) and her strange world. Then I was curious about the iron duke, his myth and what kind of person would have such a nickname and why. The various devices were also quite interesting and I was looking forward to seeing where the story went.

There came a point where th ...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Christal rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: multiple-leads, pi-detective-cop, dystopian-post-apocalyptic, alt-history, steam-punk, paranormal-romance, disappointing, shady-government-agency, vaginal-fantasy-hangout, pirates

I didn't really care for this one. While it isn't awful, it didn't suck me in or make me care about the characters very much. To me, the beginning was slow and clumsy, the middle picked up but had some "romance" elements I didn't care for, and the ending was just a disappointment.

I liked the world-building Ms. Brook created, but I felt like the first chapter was a horrible introduction. The steampunk elements were interesting, but at times a bit overdone. I still don't see why there was nanotec I didn't really care for this one. While it isn't awful, it didn't suck me in or make me care about the characters very much. To me, the beginning was slow and clumsy, the middle picked up but had some "romance" elements I didn't care for, and the ending was just a disappointment.

I liked the world-building Ms. Brook created, but I felt like the first chapter was a horrible introduction. The steampunk elements were interesting, but at times a bit overdone. I still don't see why there was nanotech in a steampunk novel. That is something you normally find in cyberpunk or scifi. The fact that the city's buildings and houses were crumbling but there were so many people walking around with advanced metal grafts and body parts didn't really make sense. Complaints aside, I still like the alternate history that was created and wished that had been the focus of this novel instead of the romance.

Mina is our leading lady and I really liked her most of the time. She was strong and smart, she had a firm sense of self, and she wasn't afraid to take help when she needed it. All in all, a very likeable heroine. The Iron Duke, one of the many names he is called throughout the novel, was our main man. I hated him. He was an awful character and quite a bit rape-y. He really dragged this book down. The characters that I liked most were Scarsdale, the always drunk dandy best friend of the Duke, and Yasmeen, captain of an airship, Lady Corsair. If I read the next book, it will only be because Yasmeen is the lead character and the male lead, Archemedes Fox, seems totally different from the Duke (thank goodness).

The novel started out slowly and then picked up when Mina and the Duke had to leave on a mission. This was the interesting part, political intrigue, assassination, threats from the evil league of evil, a complicated rescue mission, and a kraken. The only things that brought it down for me were the romance elements. I don't like the Duke as a character and I don't find his interactions with Mina very sexy. (view spoiler) After this incident, I was done with their relationship. I wonder if Ms. Brooks was too because it wasn't really developed further than sex. Also, their HEA seemed to come out of nowhere because these two characters surely couldn't communicate with each other.

The ending also lost me. Everything seemed to be solved too easily. It was as if Ms. Brooks gave up on the actual conflicts and just focused on the sex scenes. Then she remembered she had to tie up the loose threads so 1, 2, 3... done. I was disappointed.

I really liked the world that was created in this novel and the character of Mina, but the romance and the character of the Duke really diminished my enjoyment. Like I said earlier, I might delve into the next novel, but only because the Duke is not the main character. Hopefully, he won't open his mouth in it at all. ...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Christina (AKA Babbling) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-books, part-of-a-series, favorite-series, 2012

(SOS Bingo Round 4, Team 4 & x-post to blog)

Skimming some of the reviews, just before I began reading this book, I was almost convinced not to even start it. Steampunk is relatively new to me. I'm pretty sure I haven't read any, and some of those reviews had me wondering whether I'd like this author's take on the genre. I've read science fiction and fantasy, so I knew I could do the "suspension of belief" bit and hopefully understand the world she created with minimal confusion. Even so, I went ...more

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Jan 28, 2011 Deyara rated it really liked it

I've given this 4 even though the relationship between the two main characters nearly drove me mad. I really liked the world, and even the ship parts - never been a fan of sailing etc but this worked for me - and adore Scarsdale. I'm a bit wary of reading more by this author though I will probably give one a try since it might just be these two characters together that rub me the wrong way. Shame, since Mina is great when Rhys is out of the picture. ...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Denise rated it really liked it

Shelves: books, kindle, paranormal-romance, steampunk, 2012, vaginal-fantasy-book-club

Sexy steampunk! Read for that vaginal fantasy group I joined but it's something I wanted to read for a while. I think I will be reading more steampunk. ...more

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