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Adult Review: Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook

10/24/2012

10 Comments

 
Heart of Steel cover
Heart of Steel (Iron Seas, #2)
Author: Meljean Brook
Publication Date: 11/1/11
Publisher: Penguin
[Goodreads|Amazon]

Blurb(GR):
 
The Iron Duke introduced the gritty, alluring adventure of the Iron Seas, where nanotech fuses with Victorian sensibilities—and steam.

As the mercenary captain of Lady Corsair, Yasmeen has learned to keep her heart as cold as steel, her only loyalty bound to her ship and her crew. So when a man who once tried to seize her airship returns from the dead, Yasmeen will be damned if she gives him another opportunity to take control.

Treasure hunter Archimedes Fox isn't interested in Lady Corsair—he wants her coldhearted captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. To reclaim it, Archimedes is determined to seduce the stubborn woman who once tossed him to a ravenous pack of zombies, but she's no easy conquest.

When da Vinci's sketch attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco—and straight into their enemy's hands. But as they fight to save themselves and a city on the brink of rebellion, the greatest peril Yasmeen faces is from the man who seeks to melt her icy heart.


Review:


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.

3.5/5 Stars
Readventurer C Signature
10 Comments
Sarah link
10/24/2012 01:27:02 am

I really enjoyed this book too. It's definitely cheesy, but it's also plain fun. I loved the different power dynamics between the two main characters. Interestingly, I wouldn't have read Heart of Steel if Noelle hadn't recommended it to me last year, because I'd read the first book in this series and it had some very troubling (for me) power dynamics. If you like Brook's writing, I highly recommend the third in this series, Riveted, which is different from any romance I've read and heavily explores the theme of "difference." (It's one of my memorable read of the year.)

Reply
Catie (The Readventurer) link
10/24/2012 08:44:35 am

Oh, that's interesting about book three. I can tell that this world has a few couples waiting in the wings (to get together in future novels) but it sounds like she doesn't really follow a formula if they've all been so different. Next time I need a romance I'll pick up book three!

Reply
Noelle link
10/24/2012 04:42:32 am

I'm so glad you had fun with Yasmeen and Archimedes, Catie! All hail Disco Chicken!

Sarah is right, the next book is worth a read too. Totally different tone but with great characters. There are just endless story possibilities in the Iron Seas world.

PS. I just finished my first book of the Challenge too! We are on the score board! *cough* Flannery *cough* :D

Reply
Catie (The Readventurer) link
10/24/2012 08:47:58 am

I notice we both went for the chicken. The chicken is the true winner here, I think.

Woo! I wonder which one Flannery will choose...?

Reply
Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous link
10/24/2012 09:22:59 am

In honor of the chicken.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4qOKybOKXs

Ahhhh, that stand behind you line. SO HOT. Wait, does the girl or guy say it? I haven't read this b/c I'm kind of ambivalent about steampunk but I love that line.

Reply
Catie (The Readventurer) link
10/24/2012 10:56:39 am

Ahahaha, so perfect!

It's THE GUY who says it. He's very respectful of her position and into equality. It's quite hot.

Reply
Maja
10/25/2012 04:42:04 am

*sigh* It was my goal in life to write a review that would somehow include Chris Rock, and now you beat me to it. I think I must challenge you to a duel.
You are completely destroying my reading schedule!! I'll read No and Me this weekend, but I want some brain candy right after. Ilona Andrews (Gordon, whatever) often writes about Meljean's books and I've had my eye on them for a while, plus I have a soft spot for steampunk. I'm in.

Reply
Catie (The Readventurer) link
10/25/2012 08:02:58 am

Woohoo! I am winning at your bucket list! Just kidding. And no, I'd never duel you, because I think you've read and reviewed about a hundred more books than I have this year. You'd do laps around me.

I think you'd really enjoy this series Maja. I can't speak for the first book but this one is quite good (and apparently the third book is good as well).

Reply
Keertana link
10/25/2012 06:29:19 am

Wonderful review, Catie! I've had my eye on this series for awhile, but the first book has received so many mixed reviews that I think I'll just jump into this one instead. I sometimes get into those moods where I want to read nothing but meaningless romance, but like you, the power dynamics irritate me to no end, so it's nice to finally see it done well in this one. I think that, more than anything else, really sold me on this book. I can't wait to read it myself now! :)

Reply
Catie (The Readventurer) link
10/25/2012 08:04:15 am

Thanks Keertana! I do love mindless romance as well, and it's so great to find one like this that doesn't piss me off. I hope you like it!

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