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alikatson's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, this book was great! Will and Lena were decent in the last book but the were both immature - I was really pleased to see this book was set three years later.
Lena was a great heroine, out to do whatever she can to help not only herself but her family and others in her restricted circumstances. She's had a huge crush on Will since she met him and hid her feelings behind silly flirtations. She lives with her half-brother (the relationship is a secret to society) and has become a spy for the humanist movement in London.
Will is infected with the loupe virus which provides great strengths and other shifter tendencies, but not full on shifting. He has also been infatuated with Lena since meeting her and is terrified of going to far with her and exposing her to his disease or hurting her. He has avoided her, but they are thrown back together by the danger that is pervasive in their world.
Their relationship was sweet, I love how they were both in love with each other for ages. Will was really hot in this, their sexy moments were freaking hot.
I loved seeing Will jump to Lena's rescue
AND seeing her kick arse on her own was even better!
I really love Lena's family but I wish they had shared their burdens with one another sooner.
Lena was a great heroine, out to do whatever she can to help not only herself but her family and others in her restricted circumstances. She's had a huge crush on Will since she met him and hid her feelings behind silly flirtations. She lives with her half-brother (the relationship is a secret to society) and has become a spy for the humanist movement in London.
Will is infected with the loupe virus which provides great strengths and other shifter tendencies, but not full on shifting. He has also been infatuated with Lena since meeting her and is terrified of going to far with her and exposing her to his disease or hurting her. He has avoided her, but they are thrown back together by the danger that is pervasive in their world.
Their relationship was sweet, I love how they were both in love with each other for ages. Will was really hot in this, their sexy moments were freaking hot.
I loved seeing Will jump to Lena's rescue
Spoiler
AND seeing her kick arse on her own was even better!
Spoiler
I thought Lena would be a bit more resistant than she was to Will, but she was great. She threw away her position in society to be with him and she was actually thrilled to be infected with the loupe virus (especially since she could not remember her traumatic transition). She was ready to defend herself and relished in no longer being the prey of creepy bluebloods.I really love Lena's family but I wish they had shared their burdens with one another sooner.
divapitbull's review
5.0
Heart of Iron was the perfect blend/balance of romance and an intriguing story. I would recommend reading it after Kiss of Steel and the novella Tarnished Knight in order to fully appreciate the characters and their backstory.
Lena has been smitten with Will since she was a young girl, and she flirted with him mercilessly - mainly because she knew it made him very uncomfortable. Will is uncomfortable around women in general and avoids them at all cost ever since his mother sold him to the equivalent of a traveling circus when he was a child. Will was infected with the loupe virus and became a verwulfen which meant most people saw him as nothing more than a dangerous animal to be caged, tortured and put on display. Will was especially on edge around Lena as she was the only woman he was ever attracted to and he knew nothing could ever develop between them because he wouldn't risk exposing her to the virus.
There were some expected misunderstandings, but in general Lena and Will had great chemistry and it was hard not to root for them. I liked Lena allot. 3 years had passed since Kiss of Steel and she was now almost 20. Despite her young age I found her to be reasonably mature. Yes, she was somewhat impulsive and a bit of a risk-taker, but she wasn't given to histrionics. She was aware of the world in which she lived and she was able to navigate it with a certain amount of confidence and competence.
I also liked Will allot, hard for him not to tug at your heart strings. He tried so hard to do the right thing and felt such a keen sense of unworthiness.
The story held up to the romance and within the world the author created the characters, their actions and the plot was credible. Blade and Honoria appear throughout a good portion of the story as secondary characters and it was fun to catch up with them.
Lena has been smitten with Will since she was a young girl, and she flirted with him mercilessly - mainly because she knew it made him very uncomfortable. Will is uncomfortable around women in general and avoids them at all cost ever since his mother sold him to the equivalent of a traveling circus when he was a child. Will was infected with the loupe virus and became a verwulfen which meant most people saw him as nothing more than a dangerous animal to be caged, tortured and put on display. Will was especially on edge around Lena as she was the only woman he was ever attracted to and he knew nothing could ever develop between them because he wouldn't risk exposing her to the virus.
There were some expected misunderstandings, but in general Lena and Will had great chemistry and it was hard not to root for them. I liked Lena allot. 3 years had passed since Kiss of Steel and she was now almost 20. Despite her young age I found her to be reasonably mature. Yes, she was somewhat impulsive and a bit of a risk-taker, but she wasn't given to histrionics. She was aware of the world in which she lived and she was able to navigate it with a certain amount of confidence and competence.
I also liked Will allot, hard for him not to tug at your heart strings. He tried so hard to do the right thing and felt such a keen sense of unworthiness.
The story held up to the romance and within the world the author created the characters, their actions and the plot was credible. Blade and Honoria appear throughout a good portion of the story as secondary characters and it was fun to catch up with them.
thecolouryes's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
librarianlinds's review
4.0
[a:Bec McMaster|5763301|Bec McMaster|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1334926187p2/5763301.jpg] continues her genre blending London Steampunk Series with this solid and completely satisfying follow-up to [b:Kiss of Steel|13507512|Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, #1)|Bec McMaster|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344055795s/13507512.jpg|19058959]. Lena Todd must navigate the ballrooms and predators of the Echelon while secretly working for an underground group of human rebels intent on destroying the reign of the corrupt vampire elite with the unwelcome protection of verwolfen Will Carver. But Will has his own battles to fight with a contingent of Scandinavian verwolfen at court to make peace or war and his problematic love/hate relationship with Lena.
Readers of [b:Kiss of Steel|13507512|Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, #1)|Bec McMaster|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344055795s/13507512.jpg|19058959](and if you're not, you should be) will be eager to see where Will and Lena's relationship goes after the flirtation in Kiss and they won't be disappointed. Lena has matured from the bratty younger sister to a cool aristocratic ice queen and watching Will melt her icy defenses to expose her vulnerabilities while helping her become a strong powerful woman is what makes this second series installment a match to the greatness of the first.
I love everything about this series from the large cast of interesting characters that surface enough to hint at future storylines but not enough to overpower the featured couple to the fast-paced narrative and action sequences that keep me reading way past my bedtime. As a steampunk-paranormal-historical-romance this series has something for everyone and I can't imagine a fan of any one of these genres being disappointed.
Readers of [b:Kiss of Steel|13507512|Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, #1)|Bec McMaster|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344055795s/13507512.jpg|19058959](and if you're not, you should be) will be eager to see where Will and Lena's relationship goes after the flirtation in Kiss and they won't be disappointed. Lena has matured from the bratty younger sister to a cool aristocratic ice queen and watching Will melt her icy defenses to expose her vulnerabilities while helping her become a strong powerful woman is what makes this second series installment a match to the greatness of the first.
I love everything about this series from the large cast of interesting characters that surface enough to hint at future storylines but not enough to overpower the featured couple to the fast-paced narrative and action sequences that keep me reading way past my bedtime. As a steampunk-paranormal-historical-romance this series has something for everyone and I can't imagine a fan of any one of these genres being disappointed.
fishgirl182's review
3.0
I rated this one a little lower than the previous book because the two main characters were kind of frustrating. Each misinterprets what the other says (more than once) and they kept pushing each other away and are both miserable for it. I still thought it was a lot of fun but I wanted to smack some sense into both of them. Thankfully they finally figure it out and get their HEA.
blodeuedd's review
3.0
First, she was not as much a spy as the blurb let me to believe. But then who cares about that. This was Lena steering through the danger of the blood court, most vampires seems to forget about the old thrall contracts. And the Echelon debutantes to not have it easy.
Back to the start then. In book 1 Lena flirted with the beast, Will Carver, werwulfen and a dangerous man. In book 2 she is a debutante looking to be a thrall to some powerful vampire. And dodging some. While Will does his best to try and forget her. His kind does not mix with humans, it's too dangerous.
Lena does do some spy work, a bit of telling about things she hears, but she is not happy about how some do things. And I feel conflicted. I do want the humans to be free. But at the same time there are good vampires too. So what should happen? I just do not know. This is a world that will go up in flames soon. And what will then happen to Blade and Will, well they will die. Conflicted yes, as some vamps are so evil too.
Oh I forgot. Anyway, romance, Passion! Danger! That is what this book will bring you. Steampunk? Eh, not so much. But it was a good book.
Back to the start then. In book 1 Lena flirted with the beast, Will Carver, werwulfen and a dangerous man. In book 2 she is a debutante looking to be a thrall to some powerful vampire. And dodging some. While Will does his best to try and forget her. His kind does not mix with humans, it's too dangerous.
Lena does do some spy work, a bit of telling about things she hears, but she is not happy about how some do things. And I feel conflicted. I do want the humans to be free. But at the same time there are good vampires too. So what should happen? I just do not know. This is a world that will go up in flames soon. And what will then happen to Blade and Will, well they will die. Conflicted yes, as some vamps are so evil too.
Oh I forgot. Anyway, romance, Passion! Danger! That is what this book will bring you. Steampunk? Eh, not so much. But it was a good book.
roobie's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️4 stars⭐️
Maybe you're right. Maybe I am lettin' others dictate how I see meself.
But for all your brave words, so do you.
Maybe you're right. Maybe I am lettin' others dictate how I see meself.
But for all your brave words, so do you.
twowhoodles's review
5.0
This one is intense - lots of tensions building up (romantically and in-world), brought to satisfying conclusions :)
leabookjoy's review
5.0
French & English reviews
Un tome que j'ai dévoré ><
Après un premier tome qui m'avait beaucoup plu, j'ai plongé dans ce deuxième livre et je l'ai ADORE !
Ce que j'ai particulièrement aimé :
- l'univers toujours aussi riche ! Cette fois-ci, on a davantage d'explication sur le fonctionnement de la Cour et surtout sur les verwulfen (j'adorais avoir un livre qui se passe en Scandinavie =D)
- les multiples intrigues autour des humanistes, des "mech' " (j'adorais en savoir plus sur eux et j'ai beaucoup aimé voir les différents automates !) et du traité avec les verwulfen ! Et bien sûr Colchester que j'ai adoré détesté =D (j'espère qu'on verra le fameux réseau pour aider les jeunes femmes que Lena veut créer !)
- énorme coup de cœur pour les personnages, que ce soit les principaux (coup de cœur pour Lena qui a été tellement courageuse malgré tout ce qu'elle a vécu <3) ou les secondaires (Astrid que j'ai adoré et que j'aimerais beaucoup voir avec son propre livre, Lynch qui m'intrigue beaucoup mais aussi les humanistes que l'on a vu comme Rosalind et bien sûr toujours Leo <3)
- la romance était PFIOULALALA ! J'ai adoré voir Lena et Will se tourner autour et finalement succomber <3
Bref, un tome aussi bien voire meilleur que le précédent et j'ai hâte de lire le prochain avec Lynch =D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A book that I devoured ><
After a first book that I really liked, I plunged into this second book and I LOVED it !
What I particularly liked :
- the universe still so rich ! This time, we have more explanation on the functioning of the Court and especially on the verwulfen (I would love to have a book that takes place in Scandinavia =D)
- the multiple plots around the humanists, the "mech '" (I loved to know more about them and I really liked seeing the different automatons !) and the treaty with the verwulfen ! And of course Colchester whom I loved to hate =D (I hope we will see the famous network to help the young women that Lena wants to create !)
- huge crush for the characters, whether the main ones (LOVE Lena who was so courageous despite everything she's been through <3) or the secondary ones (Astrid whom I adored and whom I would very much like to see with her own book, Lynch which intrigues me a lot but also the humanists whom we saw like Rosalind and of course always Leo <3)
- romance was PFIOULALALA! I loved seeing Lena and Will turn around each other and finally succumb to it <3
In short, a book as good or even better than the previous one and I can't wait to read the next one with Lynch =D
Un tome que j'ai dévoré ><
Après un premier tome qui m'avait beaucoup plu, j'ai plongé dans ce deuxième livre et je l'ai ADORE !
Ce que j'ai particulièrement aimé :
- l'univers toujours aussi riche ! Cette fois-ci, on a davantage d'explication sur le fonctionnement de la Cour et surtout sur les verwulfen (j'adorais avoir un livre qui se passe en Scandinavie =D)
- les multiples intrigues autour des humanistes, des "mech' " (j'adorais en savoir plus sur eux et j'ai beaucoup aimé voir les différents automates !) et du traité avec les verwulfen ! Et bien sûr Colchester que j'ai adoré détesté =D (j'espère qu'on verra le fameux réseau pour aider les jeunes femmes que Lena veut créer !)
- énorme coup de cœur pour les personnages, que ce soit les principaux (coup de cœur pour Lena qui a été tellement courageuse malgré tout ce qu'elle a vécu <3) ou les secondaires (Astrid que j'ai adoré et que j'aimerais beaucoup voir avec son propre livre, Lynch qui m'intrigue beaucoup mais aussi les humanistes que l'on a vu comme Rosalind et bien sûr toujours Leo <3)
- la romance était PFIOULALALA ! J'ai adoré voir Lena et Will se tourner autour et finalement succomber <3
Bref, un tome aussi bien voire meilleur que le précédent et j'ai hâte de lire le prochain avec Lynch =D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A book that I devoured ><
After a first book that I really liked, I plunged into this second book and I LOVED it !
What I particularly liked :
- the universe still so rich ! This time, we have more explanation on the functioning of the Court and especially on the verwulfen (I would love to have a book that takes place in Scandinavia =D)
- the multiple plots around the humanists, the "mech '" (I loved to know more about them and I really liked seeing the different automatons !) and the treaty with the verwulfen ! And of course Colchester whom I loved to hate =D (I hope we will see the famous network to help the young women that Lena wants to create !)
- huge crush for the characters, whether the main ones (LOVE Lena who was so courageous despite everything she's been through <3) or the secondary ones (Astrid whom I adored and whom I would very much like to see with her own book, Lynch which intrigues me a lot but also the humanists whom we saw like Rosalind and of course always Leo <3)
- romance was PFIOULALALA! I loved seeing Lena and Will turn around each other and finally succumb to it <3
In short, a book as good or even better than the previous one and I can't wait to read the next one with Lynch =D