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nelsonseye's review against another edition
3.0
Liked both Archimedes and Yasmeen as well as the overall story. However, it didn't click with me as much as the first one. May upgrade my rating later.
alice2000's review against another edition
5.0
A spectacular follow up to [b:The Iron Duke|7864587|The Iron Duke (Iron Seas, #1)|Meljean Brook|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312522759s/7864587.jpg|11022865] featuring Yasmeen and Archimedes. I fell in love with them both while reading ID and Heart of Steel did not disappoint.
Both of them were well formed characters and their connection was completely earned. Ms Brook did a fantastic job with both the story and the romance. She deepened the history of the Horde as well as the Old and New Worlds. I really wish there were a map, though, so I could get a better idea of where her boundaries are.
My only slight disappointment came towards the end. Still I loved this book from beginning to end and just wished it had lasted longer.
I do hope that in future books she brings back Yasmeen and Archimedes as well as Rhys and Mina.
Both of them were well formed characters and their connection was completely earned. Ms Brook did a fantastic job with both the story and the romance. She deepened the history of the Horde as well as the Old and New Worlds. I really wish there were a map, though, so I could get a better idea of where her boundaries are.
My only slight disappointment came towards the end.
Spoiler
I really wish that the tower in Rabat had still been working. It would have been an interesting development if Archimedes had been affected by it.I do hope that in future books she brings back Yasmeen and Archimedes as well as Rhys and Mina.
ubalstecha's review against another edition
3.0
As an airship captain, Yasmeen has learn to not trust me who tell her they love her. Too often, they want what she has and are not to be trusted. Even the legendary Archimedes Fox tried to take over her ship once. Yasmeen tossed him back into zombie infested Venice for that. Now he's back, and pulling her into a web of assassins, debt and rebellion. With her ship destroyed, she has no choice but to work with Fox, but can she keep her principles in the face of such a situation.
Another great Steampunk romance from Brook. Again, her world build is rich and just fun to fall into. Her main characters are nuanced and believable. What she needs to work on are the secondary characters. The ones in this book, with a few exceptions, verge on the cartoonish. The sex scenes move closer to the romance fiction norm than in the first book.
Worth picking up.
Another great Steampunk romance from Brook. Again, her world build is rich and just fun to fall into. Her main characters are nuanced and believable. What she needs to work on are the secondary characters. The ones in this book, with a few exceptions, verge on the cartoonish. The sex scenes move closer to the romance fiction norm than in the first book.
Worth picking up.
samantha_reads_more's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked both of these characters in the first book so I'm glad book two picked up their story.
I enjoyed the adventures and political intrigue. I like that the strong female lead didn't ever have to give up her strength to make herself more palatable for the hero.
I feel like I've read this book before? But I still really enjoyed.
I enjoyed the adventures and political intrigue. I like that the strong female lead didn't ever have to give up her strength to make herself more palatable for the hero.
I feel like I've read this book before? But I still really enjoyed.
nematome's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars
Last week, Noelle recommended three books to me based on my love of a song, my love of old-school girl hero fantasy, and lastly, based on my need for a mindless, no regrets sort of read. Naturally, I jumped all over that last one. I was promised “humor, action and adventure, some swoon for good measure and oh so much fun” with this book and I was not disappointed. Yes, this is in fact a sequel and no, I have not read the first book. I may have missed a few things here and there about the “rebellion” and Da Vinci and giant emotion-dampening towers and blah blah blah.
Listen, you can put away your lovingly decoupaged review notes journal right now, because keeping track of the details is not what this book is about. This book is about fun and romance and cheesy, CHEESY lines and happily ever after. It’s also about a nanobot-engineered badass female hero/airship Captain and her secret fictional crush who COMES TO LIFE. Yep. And not only that, but it turns out that he’s a hero in his own right, a feminist, and he wants nothing more than to fall in love with her.
This book has what I’d say roughly about 95% of romance novels out there* do not have: namely, love interests who are on equal footing. They support each other, respect each other, and don’t try to parent each other (ugh, nothing annoys me more than that in a romance novel). On the one hand, I am ecstatic to find that here, in a very traditional romance. Previously I think I’ve only come across a pairing this balanced in fantasy (in The Queen’s Thief series or The Chronicles of Lumatere for example). On the other hand, this all just reminds me of that Chris Rock bit about people** taking credit for things they’re just supposed to do anyway. Your love interest is supposed to be supportive and respectful of you! Your love interest isn’t supposed to treat you like a child and patronize you at every opportunity! I wish this type of relationship were so much the rule that I didn’t even feel compelled to discuss it here. But, here we are.
However, this IS a very traditional romance. These two don’t have too many stumbling blocks or challenges, and one gets the feeling that they will of course be riding off into the sunset (on an airship, naturally) in the end. This relationship, while remarkable in the equality of its lovers, didn’t pique my interest in any way. I guess I just like my romances to be a bit more prickly and difficult. So I can’t say that I’ll really remember this read in a year’s time, but hey – that was also advertised to me in the recommendation so I guess you can consider me one satisfied customer.
And despite the large number of cheesy lines, there were a few lovely ones:
“…I am not crew, but I would like to stand behind you. Not above, not below. To back you up, should you ever need it.”
Perfect Musical Pairing
Ed Sheeran – Kiss Me
I am choosing this song, number one, because these two take waaaaaay too long to kiss, and they basically equate kissing with falling in love in a way that completely reminds me of the lyrics here. And number two, because this song is very sweet in a way that kind of makes me cringe if I listen to it too many times. I can only take so many of these disco chicken reads per year, but I’m glad that I spent this year’s allotment on this one.
*Believe me, I have read a TON of romances. My second pregnancy was basically like a 9 month haze of breeches, bodices, drawers, and corsets.
**And yes, I know that bit isn't really about "people" in general, but I am staying well away from that can of worms.
Also seen at The Readventurer.
Last week, Noelle recommended three books to me based on my love of a song, my love of old-school girl hero fantasy, and lastly, based on my need for a mindless, no regrets sort of read. Naturally, I jumped all over that last one. I was promised “humor, action and adventure, some swoon for good measure and oh so much fun” with this book and I was not disappointed. Yes, this is in fact a sequel and no, I have not read the first book. I may have missed a few things here and there about the “rebellion” and Da Vinci and giant emotion-dampening towers and blah blah blah.
Listen, you can put away your lovingly decoupaged review notes journal right now, because keeping track of the details is not what this book is about. This book is about fun and romance and cheesy, CHEESY lines and happily ever after. It’s also about a nanobot-engineered badass female hero/airship Captain and her secret fictional crush who COMES TO LIFE. Yep. And not only that, but it turns out that he’s a hero in his own right, a feminist, and he wants nothing more than to fall in love with her.
This book has what I’d say roughly about 95% of romance novels out there* do not have: namely, love interests who are on equal footing. They support each other, respect each other, and don’t try to parent each other (ugh, nothing annoys me more than that in a romance novel). On the one hand, I am ecstatic to find that here, in a very traditional romance. Previously I think I’ve only come across a pairing this balanced in fantasy (in The Queen’s Thief series or The Chronicles of Lumatere for example). On the other hand, this all just reminds me of that Chris Rock bit about people** taking credit for things they’re just supposed to do anyway. Your love interest is supposed to be supportive and respectful of you! Your love interest isn’t supposed to treat you like a child and patronize you at every opportunity! I wish this type of relationship were so much the rule that I didn’t even feel compelled to discuss it here. But, here we are.
However, this IS a very traditional romance. These two don’t have too many stumbling blocks or challenges, and one gets the feeling that they will of course be riding off into the sunset (on an airship, naturally) in the end. This relationship, while remarkable in the equality of its lovers, didn’t pique my interest in any way. I guess I just like my romances to be a bit more prickly and difficult. So I can’t say that I’ll really remember this read in a year’s time, but hey – that was also advertised to me in the recommendation so I guess you can consider me one satisfied customer.
And despite the large number of cheesy lines, there were a few lovely ones:
“…I am not crew, but I would like to stand behind you. Not above, not below. To back you up, should you ever need it.”
Perfect Musical Pairing
Ed Sheeran – Kiss Me
I am choosing this song, number one, because these two take waaaaaay too long to kiss, and they basically equate kissing with falling in love in a way that completely reminds me of the lyrics here. And number two, because this song is very sweet in a way that kind of makes me cringe if I listen to it too many times. I can only take so many of these disco chicken reads per year, but I’m glad that I spent this year’s allotment on this one.
*Believe me, I have read a TON of romances. My second pregnancy was basically like a 9 month haze of breeches, bodices, drawers, and corsets.
**And yes, I know that bit isn't really about "people" in general, but I am staying well away from that can of worms.
Also seen at The Readventurer.
phallucee's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite as good as the first, just my opinion as Yasmeen was a very strong h and I guess I prefer when the H is more the dominant in the relationship.
mtk_reads's review against another edition
4.0
LADY AIRSHIP PIRATE. Ugh, I loved Yasmeen SO MUCH in the first book in the series, and this book was ALL ABOUT HER. Plus, way less weird sketchy consent shit! Archimedes was fun, although obviously I would have preferred it if she'd taken up with his sister...but, het romances. *hands*
lit_lady's review against another edition
5.0
Another wonderful romantic adventure that features some of the best world building I've read in Romance.
I think I actually preferred this novel over book #1 because Yasmeen was so dominate and independent, and Archimedes is such a goof, adorable. I was almost scared I wouldn't enjoy this one as much as the Iron Duke from other reviews, but I think since their relationship builds more slowly and naturally and she's almost an alpha female some others might have been put off. Perhaps from the sure lack of steamy bits though. Yes, it's an adult romance without out all the smut. Very classy.
High Adventure with a romantic twist that isn't sappy in a very vast and detailed world with it's own alt. history. I'd defiantly recommend this, I might even recommend new readers to the series to read this before Iron Duke as it isn't borderline rapey.
I think I actually preferred this novel over book #1 because Yasmeen was so dominate and independent, and Archimedes is such a goof, adorable. I was almost scared I wouldn't enjoy this one as much as the Iron Duke from other reviews, but I think since their relationship builds more slowly and naturally and she's almost an alpha female some others might have been put off. Perhaps from the sure lack of steamy bits though. Yes, it's an adult romance without out all the smut. Very classy.
High Adventure with a romantic twist that isn't sappy in a very vast and detailed world with it's own alt. history. I'd defiantly recommend this, I might even recommend new readers to the series to read this before Iron Duke as it isn't borderline rapey.
abbythompson's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, I have absolutely NO CLUE what happened in this book. The plot is a mess and makes absolutely no sense. That being said, the build between Yasmeen and Archimedes is STEAMY! Watching the two of them fall in love, with a wonderful, soft flipping of traditional gender roles, made the book for me. Archimedes is a near perfect Beta hero, who knows when to step back and support his lady as she takes charge. It never diminishes him and eventually Yasmeen comes to rely on that steady support and OH it is heartbreakingly beautiful.
So, plot = disaster. World building = confusing. Character & character development = AWESOME.
So, plot = disaster. World building = confusing. Character & character development = AWESOME.
reginaexmachina's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know why it took me forever to read this since I liked the first book enough. While I like the world building going on in this book I wasn't as in love with the characters. I found them interesting but I feel like I was more emotionally attached to the the couple in the first book. Regardless I did enjoy it and look forward to more in the series.