Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Review: The Kraken King by Meljean Brook

Rating: ★★★★★ stars
Date published: November 4th, 2014
Publisher: Berkley
Synopsis: A former smuggler and thief, Ariq—better known as the Kraken King—doesn’t know what to make of the clever, mysterious woman he rescues from an airship besieged by marauders. Unsure if she’s a spy or a pawn in someone else’s game, Ariq isn’t about to let her out of his sight until he finds out…

After escaping her fourth kidnapping attempt in a year, Zenobia Fox has learned to vigilantly guard her identity. While her brother Archimedes is notorious for his exploits, Zenobia has had no adventures to call her own—besides the stories she writes.

But when she jumps at the chance to escape to the wilds of Australia and acquire research for her next story, Zenobia quickly discovers that the voyage will be far more adventurous than any fiction she could put to paper…

What I Thought:

I don't read steampunk often, but I always read Meljean Brook's Iron Seas stories.  She's made this world that's both fascinating and slightly horrifying at the same time and I can never get enough of it. The Kraken King was originally released as a serial and just came out all together in paperback today. I was a little apprehensive because the book focused on Zenobia, and I wasn't sure she would be up to the challenge of the adventure ahead of her, but I was wrong.  

I absolutely loved this book.  I thought I'd read a few chapters to whet my appetite, before going to bed, but the next thing I knew it was almost 4 AM and I wasn't going to give in to sleep until I knew what was going to happen to Zenobia and Ariq.  This book was so intense and so amazing.  I felt like I was experiencing the same magic I had in the The Iron Duke, which is my favorite book in the series.  I was on the edge of my seat and I could feel my heart racing as I flipped through the pages.  There were moments when I had to pace and read at the same time because the action was so intense and my emotions wouldn't allow me to sit still. I cried a number of times as events took dangerous and sad turns.  

Ariq and Zenobia stole my heart.  I laughed with them, cried with them, held my breath as they got into scrapes I didn't think they were going to make it out of.  I'm actually really glad this book took place outside of England and on the other side of the world.  It allowed me to experience new creatures and to see a completely different side of the Iron Seas world.  There was just as much intrigue there, maybe even more.  This book felt fresher and edgier than the previous two in the series. Ariq was sexy as hell and just as intelligent too.  Zenobia was brave and resourceful. I loved how they looked out for each other.  

I don't know how Meljean does it.  Each and every page in this book was something new.  I was unable to stop reading and even when I was finished, I couldn't stop thinking about Ariq, Zenobia, and what they went through. I didn't want to leave them.  It was great to see Yasmeen and Archimedes again and I hope to one day see Rhys and Mina again in another story.  I sincerely hope Meljean will continue writing in this world.  It seems with every book she releases, she hints at so much but reveals so little, leaving me with more and more questions that need to be answered, and a hunger to immerse myself in her worlds.



Purchase Links:

About the Author
I am the author of the Iron Seas steampunk romance series. I've written a guide to the world (including a map) on my website. 

I also write a paranormal romance series, the Guardians. That series guide is also on my website, including a "The Story So Far" feature, which allows you to catch up on all of the books that previously released in the series if you start after the first installment. 
Meljean was raised in the middle of the woods, and hid under her blankets at night with fairy tales, comic books, and romances. She left the forest and went on a misguided tour through the world of accounting before focusing on her first loves, reading and writing–and she realized that monsters, superheroes, and happily-ever-afters are easily found between the covers, as well as under them, so she set out to make her own.

Meljean lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.


*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for them in any manner.*



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