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dangermousieI have a new book love. Said love is The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook. No, sadly, the book is not about the Duke of Wellington (who was thus nicknamed. I kinda like to imagine it is. If anyone knows any novels with Wellington as a main character, please let me know. He is one of my historical crushes).
TID is set in a dystopian alternate universe Victorian England. In that universe, the Horde conquered and ruled England for the last two centuries with the help of injected nanobugs which controlled the population and supressed emotions. The Horde also modified those under its rule so it's not uncommon to see people who are part automatons. But recently the Horde has been kicked out of England and the population is only now starting to adjust to freedom.
The protagonist of the novel, despite the name, is female. Inspector Mina Wentworth is part-Horde and is never allowed to live this down, despite her participation in the Rebellion. Mina is reserved, tough as hell, and dedicated to investigating murders. Unfortunately, the latest murder investigation involves the Iron Duke - Rhys Trahaearn - once an exile and pirate, but now the man acclaimed throughout England as one who defeated the Horde. Someone literally dumped a dead body, unidentifiable and without any visible cause of death, on his doorstep. As Mina doggedly continues her investigation and her interactions with the Duke, who is not one who lets a threat go easily, she gets drawn deeper and deeper into what seems to be a conspiracy to control England itself, once again.
I am about halfway through and unless the book goes spectacularly off the rails in the second half, this one is definitely a keeper. I love the grim but fascinating world Brooks created. I love Mina - she is beyond freaking awesome (think a Victorian Aeryn Sun. She really reminds me of her) and ridiculously competent and emotionally closed off and just - guuuuuuh. I am very intrigued by Rhys - his past and what drives him is very much a mystery - but he is also competent and tough and seems to appreciate Mina's awesomeness which I approve of. The plot is pretty twisty and I like the secondary characters too. The nascent love story (between Mina and Rhys, of course) seems pretty interesting so far and hopefully will actually become more developed in the second half (but even if not, I don't mind - I love their interactions even as are - a mix of partnership, hostility, reserve, and sexual tension. Mmmm, UST).
Anyway, it's really good. I must really see what else Brook has done.
One note before you dig in - I've sometimes (but not always) seen it labelled as 'steampunk romance' and I suppose it's not inaccurate as it has both steampunk and a love story. But if you are looking for a romance novel, I suggest something else - there is nowhere near enough romance and too much plot to qualify as a 'proper' romance novel. However, if a steampunk adventure/mystery/romance combo is your bag, then I do give this a chance. It's awesome.
TID is set in a dystopian alternate universe Victorian England. In that universe, the Horde conquered and ruled England for the last two centuries with the help of injected nanobugs which controlled the population and supressed emotions. The Horde also modified those under its rule so it's not uncommon to see people who are part automatons. But recently the Horde has been kicked out of England and the population is only now starting to adjust to freedom.
The protagonist of the novel, despite the name, is female. Inspector Mina Wentworth is part-Horde and is never allowed to live this down, despite her participation in the Rebellion. Mina is reserved, tough as hell, and dedicated to investigating murders. Unfortunately, the latest murder investigation involves the Iron Duke - Rhys Trahaearn - once an exile and pirate, but now the man acclaimed throughout England as one who defeated the Horde. Someone literally dumped a dead body, unidentifiable and without any visible cause of death, on his doorstep. As Mina doggedly continues her investigation and her interactions with the Duke, who is not one who lets a threat go easily, she gets drawn deeper and deeper into what seems to be a conspiracy to control England itself, once again.
I am about halfway through and unless the book goes spectacularly off the rails in the second half, this one is definitely a keeper. I love the grim but fascinating world Brooks created. I love Mina - she is beyond freaking awesome (think a Victorian Aeryn Sun. She really reminds me of her) and ridiculously competent and emotionally closed off and just - guuuuuuh. I am very intrigued by Rhys - his past and what drives him is very much a mystery - but he is also competent and tough and seems to appreciate Mina's awesomeness which I approve of. The plot is pretty twisty and I like the secondary characters too. The nascent love story (between Mina and Rhys, of course) seems pretty interesting so far and hopefully will actually become more developed in the second half (but even if not, I don't mind - I love their interactions even as are - a mix of partnership, hostility, reserve, and sexual tension. Mmmm, UST).
Anyway, it's really good. I must really see what else Brook has done.
One note before you dig in - I've sometimes (but not always) seen it labelled as 'steampunk romance' and I suppose it's not inaccurate as it has both steampunk and a love story. But if you are looking for a romance novel, I suggest something else - there is nowhere near enough romance and too much plot to qualify as a 'proper' romance novel. However, if a steampunk adventure/mystery/romance combo is your bag, then I do give this a chance. It's awesome.
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Date: 2010-10-14 03:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-14 01:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-14 05:59 am (UTC)I've never been the biggest romance novel fan; I've read some and enjoyed the odd one, but I generally prefer something else to be the main genre (mystery/historical, generally) and romance as a subplot or even just scattered throughout. So this sounds perfect for me, and I've been itching for some good steampunk lately.
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Date: 2010-10-14 01:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-14 10:59 am (UTC)I'm really enjoying this Steampunk revolution in romance. Another Steampunk book I enjoyed recently is The Native Star by M. K. Hobson. Not as much romance as TID but still a wonderful read.
You might want to try Demon Angel by Meljean Brook if you liked the Mina/Rhys relationship. The heroine of Demon Angel is, a half-demoness working for Lucifer and who keeps a monstrous three-headed dog called Sir Pup as a pet. The hero is a virgin but very manly and sexy (reminds you of someone you know?) and completely crazy about her. Here the heroine is the one with the shady moral compass but the hero can't help but be hopelessly attracted to her.
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Date: 2010-10-14 01:37 pm (UTC)I am really adoring TID. Yes, I love competence - it's my number 1 kink in life or in fiction. Cannot stand incompetent people. Thankfully both Mina and Rhys have competence in spades (they are my favorite - a combo of dysfunctional but highly competent).
Also, for once, when heroine does the whole "I don't want to be with you, even though I am attracted" I am not tearing my hair out - I'd totally do the same - if someone who looks half-Horde publicly hooked up with a national hero, she'd probably get killed and that would make anyone pause.
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Date: 2010-10-14 08:23 pm (UTC)the plot sounds good though. and, i can confirm that being on a mini-moon in no way prevents one from watching the latest episode of MK or Giant. yes... i stayed up all night to watch ep 44 of giant, in the dark, with chinese subs! =.=
btw, the HUSBAND saw a pic of JSG from the stills of his latest drama, and absolutely refuses to believe that *he* is a *bloke*. he's convinced that i am showing him 2 pics of different people, one of a woman and one of a man when i try to tell him that JSG is actually a dude. ROFL!!!
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Date: 2010-10-14 08:40 pm (UTC)Yeah, JGS looks 100% girl there.
Hope you are having fun on the honeymoon.
And The Iron Duke was grrrrrrrrrrrreat.