The New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Duke and Heart of Steel returns to the Iron Seas with a riveting new adventure of steamy romance.

A century after a devastating volcanic eruption forced Iceland's inhabitants to abandon its shores, the island has become enshrouded in legend. But the truth behind the legends is mechanical, not magical--and the mystery of the island a matter of life and death for a community of women who once spilled noble blood to secure their freedom.

Five years ago, Annika unwittingly endangered that secret, but her sister Källa took the blame and was exiled. Now Annika serves on an airship, searching for her sister and longing to return home. But that home is threatened when scientific expedition leader David Kentewess comes aboard, looking to expose Annika's secrets. Then disaster strikes, leaving David and Annika stranded on a glacier and pursued by a madman, with their very survival depending on keeping the heat rising between them--and generating lots of steam...

Series: A Novel of the Iron Seas

Review

Brooks has a wonderful way with words and the latest Iron Seas novel is just another drop in the bucket of awesome books. From metal whales capable of eating ships to an island of virginal women shrouded in mystery Brooks creates a world that is tough but captivating. I wouldn’t want to live in this Nano agent-infected and steam-powered world, but I’m happy with reading about the adventures within.

The main characters are Annika Fridasdottor and David Kentewess. Annika’s not a brave person by any means, but she’s traveling the world in search of her sister. While not outwardly brave, Annika inspires bravery by the kind of clothing she wears:

From his angle on the ground, her voluminous skirts swallowed her figure, aside from a flash of yellow not and again when the crimson material parted to show the trouser legs beneath… he recalled the purple scarf warming her neck and covering her corkscrew hair, the number of ribbons adorning her sleeves and hem. He couldn’t remember seeing such a combination of colors and shapes… her clothing was odd.  

Annika is also searching for love. She wants that connection with a person where you can’t live without them. One other fact about Annika, she’s direct. She’ll speak her mind whether it’s proper or not. Her little quirks and flaws quickly endeared me.

David on the hand is usually shy. He’s got limbs and an eye in place by the famed Blacksmith of London. Most in the New World see him as an abomination or as less than a man; including the women, except for Annika. Where most would be scared Annika is intrigued:

Annika took a moment to steady her nerves and to study him—a study that was far more interesting than a schematic had been. His legs were likely the same sort of skeletal prosthetics as his hand; unfortunately, his wool trousers concealed their design. Dinner gloves hid his hands now, too—but the absence of the garments he’d removed since she’d last seen him revealed more.

She desires to know more about him and when he hears her speak, a certain burred accent; he longs to know more too. Annika is in fact the very person he’s been searching for, the woman who can lead him to his deceased mother’s people. I loved David because he doesn’t consider himself brave either. He’s a scholar who studies volcanos, and with a personal mission not many know about. Annika brings out another side of him: a braver and emotional side that seeks close companionship. He’s never known love and neither has she, but the more time they spend together the likelihood of love finding them increases.  Not to mention the sexual tension will probably drive both of them insane.

This was as much a character driven novel as a world driven novel. I found myself mesmerized by both. Annika and David are so different than other characters I’ve read; innocent of so many things and at the same time worldly in other areas like driving trolls and manning air ship engines. When it comes to bodily reactions that’s another story:

When she slid off of him, her hip brushed over his erection. He stiffened again.

But not for her. She lay in the dark, her throat aching with humiliation and disappointment.

“Is it all men?”

“All men, what”

“Do you all harden for anyone?”

A long silence, followed by an abrupt, “Some do.”

 “So some will harden for anyone, but others only desire one person. They only want to be with the one they love.”

“Yes. As you do.” 

Yes. Though she had been aroused before, but she understood how the body could respond in such a way, even without love. Perhaps he waited, too.

I found the characters refreshing, the ongoing explanation of Brook’s Iron Seas world engrossing, and I honestly had a difficult time putting this one down. There’s never a dull moment, and mythology, creatures, and machines... oh my! There are also bad guys, and I mean bad guys that even I would’ve shot if I’d the chance. There are brave men and women willing to fight for the good causes and those who suffer the torments of poor choices. Honestly the emotions make all the characters relatable and I will confess there are a few moments when my adrenaline was pumping from the possibility of death.

If there’s a book series you must read it’s the Iron Seas. Riveted is a great place to start, but I recommend reading everything in the series, from the short stories to full-fledged novels. Brook’s has created the perfect world to get lost in.

Reviewed by Landra

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