Scan barcode
callistolexx's review
5.0
It was very good and I enjoyed it. I didn't enjoy it as much as the second two books in the series, but it was pretty darn close. I like Garrett and Perry and their relationship, though at times I just wanted to shake them and yell at them to stop overthinking everything. But it was still vastly enjoyable.
megatza's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Partners/colleagues to lovers and mutual pining with Perry and Garrett at the forefront of a deadly investigation that Perry is sure is tied to her past. I loved seeing their relationship unfold, and was glad to have read the novella with their incident at the theater prior.
laurenjodi's review
3.0
Forged by Desire
3 Stars
A respected member of the Nighthawks, Perry Lowell has worked hard for nine years to maintain a professional relationship with her partner, Garrett Reed. But when the bodies of two young girls are found with horrific injuries, the nightmares from Perry's past return to haunt her daylight hours, and she will have to confront the evil that she once managed to escape if she is to have a future with the man she loves.
Oy!
The prequel novella to this installment, The Curious Case of the Clockwork Menace provides the intriguing background to Garrett and Perry's partnership and establishes the incredible chemistry that they share.
Unfortunately, it is all ultimately for naught as the captivating tension of their friends-to-lovers relationship devolves into something bland and lifeless.
Perry's most appealing traits in the previous books, i.e., her incredible self-confidence and her kick-ass personality, disappear completely, and she turns into a whiny little b*tch who runs at the first sign of trouble.
Similarly, Garrett goes from charming rake to ineffectual leader and lover in the blink of an eye. He suffers in comparison to the other alpha heroes in the series as he in never convincing as either the new master of the Nighthawks nor as Perry's knight in shining armor.
The Jack the Ripper type mystery has potential, but intertwining it with Perry's past undermines its efficacy as the focus shifts from the details of the case to Perry's personal issues, which fail to evoke any elements of tension or suspense. The villains are cookie-cutter caricatures and all that is missing are the twirling mustaches.
The intricate world building, minor developments in the ongoing Echelon dystopia storylines as well as the cameo appearances by previous couples are the book's only saving graces.
Hopefully the final installment will provide a more satisfying romance as well as a cohesive conclusion to story arc.
3 Stars
A respected member of the Nighthawks, Perry Lowell has worked hard for nine years to maintain a professional relationship with her partner, Garrett Reed. But when the bodies of two young girls are found with horrific injuries, the nightmares from Perry's past return to haunt her daylight hours, and she will have to confront the evil that she once managed to escape if she is to have a future with the man she loves.
Oy!
The prequel novella to this installment, The Curious Case of the Clockwork Menace provides the intriguing background to Garrett and Perry's partnership and establishes the incredible chemistry that they share.
Unfortunately, it is all ultimately for naught as the captivating tension of their friends-to-lovers relationship devolves into something bland and lifeless.
Perry's most appealing traits in the previous books, i.e., her incredible self-confidence and her kick-ass personality, disappear completely, and she turns into a whiny little b*tch who runs at the first sign of trouble.
Similarly, Garrett goes from charming rake to ineffectual leader and lover in the blink of an eye. He suffers in comparison to the other alpha heroes in the series as he in never convincing as either the new master of the Nighthawks nor as Perry's knight in shining armor.
The Jack the Ripper type mystery has potential, but intertwining it with Perry's past undermines its efficacy as the focus shifts from the details of the case to Perry's personal issues, which fail to evoke any elements of tension or suspense. The villains are cookie-cutter caricatures and all that is missing are the twirling mustaches.
The intricate world building, minor developments in the ongoing Echelon dystopia storylines as well as the cameo appearances by previous couples are the book's only saving graces.
Hopefully the final installment will provide a more satisfying romance as well as a cohesive conclusion to story arc.
nakedsushi's review
3.0
Despite the trope of the main character making stupid "I'll do it myself" decisions over and over again, this was an enjoyable book that sets up many of the events for the next book. The whodunnit mystery wasn't anything new and I got a bit annoyed at how often Perry seemed to need rescue despite being part of an elite police force but, that didn't make this book any less of a page turner.
alisonb's review
4.0
Unrequited love and a traumatic past that has haunted Perry for ten years come to a head in this installment of the London Steampunk series.
Perry was a very interesting heroine. Being privileged to her thoughts as a reader, I still felt that Perry was holding back, even from me. She held so tightly to the walls that barricaded the past in which she was victimized by a powerful man and a mad scientist. Her character was very complex and slowly unfurled up until the very end of the novel. She loved Garrett so deeply and suffered in silence for an entire nine years! I was so happy to finally read about her finding love and relaxing her barriers.
Garrett has been clueless for years about Perry's deep and abiding affection for him. In this story we see him grow as a person as he takes on more responsibilities as the stand in leader of the Nighthawks. Garrett also is struggling with an imminent threat that he tries to hide from the woman he is falling for, and the one person who calms the growing rage and bloodlust inside him. I highlighted a number of swoon-worthy comments that Garrett made throughout the novel; the love, friendship, and partnership between Garett and Perry is so strong, that when Garrett falls, he falls hard.
As far as this world, I continue to enjoy it and it's interesting dynamics. McMaster has created a social structure made up of unique factions and she does vampires like nobody else.
I enjoyed this story and thought that McMaster masterfully tortured me with the slow burn of this romance. If you are interested in this paranormal and steampunk world, I highly recommend starting at the beginning and reading the novellas as well.
Perry was a very interesting heroine. Being privileged to her thoughts as a reader, I still felt that Perry was holding back, even from me. She held so tightly to the walls that barricaded the past in which she was victimized by a powerful man and a mad scientist. Her character was very complex and slowly unfurled up until the very end of the novel. She loved Garrett so deeply and suffered in silence for an entire nine years! I was so happy to finally read about her finding love and relaxing her barriers.
Garrett has been clueless for years about Perry's deep and abiding affection for him. In this story we see him grow as a person as he takes on more responsibilities as the stand in leader of the Nighthawks. Garrett also is struggling with an imminent threat that he tries to hide from the woman he is falling for, and the one person who calms the growing rage and bloodlust inside him. I highlighted a number of swoon-worthy comments that Garrett made throughout the novel; the love, friendship, and partnership between Garett and Perry is so strong, that when Garrett falls, he falls hard.
As far as this world, I continue to enjoy it and it's interesting dynamics. McMaster has created a social structure made up of unique factions and she does vampires like nobody else.
I enjoyed this story and thought that McMaster masterfully tortured me with the slow burn of this romance. If you are interested in this paranormal and steampunk world, I highly recommend starting at the beginning and reading the novellas as well.
dragon_lion64's review against another edition
4.0
I just can’t seem to get enough of this series! Bec McMaster has created a fascinating dangerous world where the all-powerful Echelon Blue Bloods rule London. The Blue Bloods are stronger and faster than humans but they rely on blood to survive. Every human must donate blood as part of their taxes. The richest and finest blood lines of the Echelon can afford thralls who are basically debutants from lesser houses of the Echelon who offer up blood and sometimes sex rights to the rich blue blood lords through a contract similar to what a mistress might receive. It’s what every debutant dreams of or rather it is the only thing they can dream of since no other opportunity exist for young women.
Ten years ago Perry fled such a situation. She was a young debutant who entered into a thrall contract with Alastair Crawford, the Duke of Moncrieff and one of the seven council members of the Echelon. A thrall contract with one of the most powerful Blue Bloods in the country would have been the envy of any debutant but the duke had secrets. In his basement, he harbored an evil scientist named Hague who experimented on women, cutting them up and taking organs from them. Hague got ahold of Perry or Octavia as she was called back then but she got away. She hacked half of Hague’s jaw off before she escaped thinking that she killed him. The Duke of Moncrieff was accused of killing his thrall and banished for ten years. During the experimentation, Perry was infected with the craving virus and became a Blue Blood. She ran to the Nighthawks and became the only female Nighthawk where she has been hiding under her assumed name, Perry.
Now, the prince consort has re-instated the Duke of Moncrieff’s seat on the council and the duke has vowed to find Octavia and prove to everyone that he didn’t kill her. There has also been killings that match Hague’s handy work. Perry doesn’t think it is a coincidence and knows her world is about to turn upside down.
Garret has just become Guild Master of the Nighthawks when Sir Jasper Lynch resigned to become one of the seven council members of the Echelon. He has been avoiding his old partner for a month….ever since the opera where Perry bloomed into a beautiful woman before his eyes when she donned a revealing gown and flirted with him. Before that, he just thought of her as his best friend and confidant. Now, he can’t get her out of his mind.
To make matters worse, his CV blood count levels keep rising. Soon he’ll be in the Fade which is when a Blue Blood turns into a vampiric monster. Every Blue Blood has to test his CV levels. Once they get so high, they have to be reported and then at some point, they get executed. Nobody wants a crazed and murderous vampire running loose. To his knowledge, there is no cure so he knows he has very little time left. ------- Of course, the readers know that in the first book of the series, Honoria has found a way to lower CV levels in Blue Bloods but Honoria hasn’t let anyone besides Blade and the people in her small circle know about it and Garret isn’t in that circle. Her father had developed a vaccination for the craving virus and vaccinated her. She discovered by accident that Blade’s CV levels were going down when he drank her blood so if a Blue Blood drinks a human’s blood who has this vaccination, their CV levels go down. I, as a reader, wondered why Honoria didn’t tell people about her cure.
This book was packed with action and I was glad to see some of the characters from previous books in it. I have really grown to love the characters in this series. The only bummer is that the next book isn’t due out until March so I have to wait until then to read it. Sigh! What shall I read until then?
www.paranormalromanceslut.com
chelsea_jack's review
5.0
I hadn't read this series before picking up this one and I will definitely go back and read some of the earlier titles.
I loved this one, I found it really entertaining and was completely swept up in the story. Forged by Desire takes the friend-to-lovers trope and plays with it. Perry and Garrett are partners in the Nighthawks, and while Perry's always had a thing for Garrett, he's only recently realized that she's... well.. womanly. I loved the way these two danced around each other, both wanting more, but fearing the repercussions on their friendship as well as having outside pressures to stay apart.
I love the way the concept of the vampire is tweaked in this book, working into the social structure and wrapping it up with some economic and political implications as well.
I'm curious about the direction of the series - there's an overarching story that I really enjoyed. I'll be on board for more!
See my complete review at ToEachTheirOwnReviews.com
Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this one, I found it really entertaining and was completely swept up in the story. Forged by Desire takes the friend-to-lovers trope and plays with it. Perry and Garrett are partners in the Nighthawks, and while Perry's always had a thing for Garrett, he's only recently realized that she's... well.. womanly. I loved the way these two danced around each other, both wanting more, but fearing the repercussions on their friendship as well as having outside pressures to stay apart.
I love the way the concept of the vampire is tweaked in this book, working into the social structure and wrapping it up with some economic and political implications as well.
I'm curious about the direction of the series - there's an overarching story that I really enjoyed. I'll be on board for more!
See my complete review at ToEachTheirOwnReviews.com
Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
mslori's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
renpuspita's review
4.0
4 stars
After reading My Lady Quicksilver (TWICE. Yeah, I know), I continued my London Steampunk marathon by read Forged by Desire. This book have a favorite trope of mine, a friend turn to love and also its have more mystery compared to the previous. Basically the first half part feel like a police procedural book, since Nighthawks are kinda like police too.
Forged by Desire can't be read as standalone, since the event continue from My Lady Quicksilver. Lynch is no longer the Master of Nighthawks since he assumed his position as duke, leaving his subordinate, Garrett Reed as the temporary Master. But, because after what happen in book 3, they both not talking to each other with Lynch can't forgive for what Garrett did (actually, I think Lynch is too stubborn, and it's entirely his fault with his martyrdom tendencies). So, Garrett was leave to his own to try to lead Nighthawks. Problem is, his craving virus just rocketed, therefore he afraid he will face the Fade and become a vampire. To add insult to injury, his friendship with Perry evolved since he now see her as woman, therefore make its complicated. But there are murder. Two girls killed by a serial killer on the loose, with a modus operandi that Perry sure connected to her past.
What I liked about Forged by Desire is the mystery that surround the murder and how it's connected to Perry's past. Perry's past is awful and therefore make her a survivor. BUT, what I also don't liked is how McMaster used the martyr trope again and Perry's was the worse compared to Lynch. At least Lynch sacrificed himself after he realized his feeling. Perry did it because she think it's the best for her and Garrett, but I assure you...it's not. Gah, why they don't said to each other about their problem, rather than pug and pull on every way. Communication, dearie...communication. Although, well if they try to be honest too early, the angst will not there, lol. I know that Perry is a survivor, but I just wish McMaster don't make her playing victim too much. Perry have Nighthawks and its sadden me to read why she didn't believe them at first and just take matter into her own. Although I liked how McMaster write about Garrett and how he finally admit his problem, both to Perry and Lynch. McMaster handled Garrett's fragility with finesse... a thing I hope she will do the same to Perry's *sigh*
With the story, after My Lady Quicksilver, the Nighthawks still got the spotlight make me almost missed the Whitechapel rookeries and their fiasco. But fret not, since the plot is move forward to the prince consort demise. All the stage already prepared and its conclusion will be delivered in the next book, Of Silk and Steam. I hardly can't wait! :)
After reading My Lady Quicksilver (TWICE. Yeah, I know), I continued my London Steampunk marathon by read Forged by Desire. This book have a favorite trope of mine, a friend turn to love and also its have more mystery compared to the previous. Basically the first half part feel like a police procedural book, since Nighthawks are kinda like police too.
Forged by Desire can't be read as standalone, since the event continue from My Lady Quicksilver. Lynch is no longer the Master of Nighthawks since he assumed his position as duke, leaving his subordinate, Garrett Reed as the temporary Master. But, because after what happen in book 3, they both not talking to each other with Lynch can't forgive for what Garrett did (actually, I think Lynch is too stubborn, and it's entirely his fault with his martyrdom tendencies). So, Garrett was leave to his own to try to lead Nighthawks. Problem is, his craving virus just rocketed, therefore he afraid he will face the Fade and become a vampire. To add insult to injury, his friendship with Perry evolved since he now see her as woman, therefore make its complicated. But there are murder. Two girls killed by a serial killer on the loose, with a modus operandi that Perry sure connected to her past.
What I liked about Forged by Desire is the mystery that surround the murder and how it's connected to Perry's past. Perry's past is awful and therefore make her a survivor. BUT, what I also don't liked is how McMaster used the martyr trope again and Perry's was the worse compared to Lynch. At least Lynch sacrificed himself after he realized his feeling. Perry did it because she think it's the best for her and Garrett, but I assure you...it's not. Gah, why they don't said to each other about their problem, rather than pug and pull on every way. Communication, dearie...communication. Although, well if they try to be honest too early, the angst will not there, lol. I know that Perry is a survivor, but I just wish McMaster don't make her playing victim too much. Perry have Nighthawks and its sadden me to read why she didn't believe them at first and just take matter into her own. Although I liked how McMaster write about Garrett and how he finally admit his problem, both to Perry and Lynch. McMaster handled Garrett's fragility with finesse... a thing I hope she will do the same to Perry's *sigh*
With the story, after My Lady Quicksilver, the Nighthawks still got the spotlight make me almost missed the Whitechapel rookeries and their fiasco. But fret not, since the plot is move forward to the prince consort demise. All the stage already prepared and its conclusion will be delivered in the next book, Of Silk and Steam. I hardly can't wait! :)