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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.
