Sunday, December 19, 2010

The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook




Steampunk

I loved The Iron Duke and after reading the book I asked Meljean Brook if she would do a short interview.  She agreed and will be here tomorrow to answer some of my questions.

The Iron Duke is the second published story Meljean has set in this universe.  The first is a novella ‘Here There Be Monsters” that was published in the anthology Burning Up.  That story is about Mad Max, a character that is mentioned in The Iron Duke.  If you can read  “Here There Be Monsters” before reading The Iron Duke as it gives a small glimpse of The Iron Seas world that Meljean is building for this series. 

Even if you don't read "Here There Be Monsters" you won't be lost.  What Meljean does is scatter facts about the Victorian looking world and the technology it possesses just as you need them to stay up with the story.  I was never lost because just as I wondered about something there was a tiny phrase or sentence that answered that question.  That being said there is still plenty of mystery about the world of The Iron Seas that further books will have to explain.

Just to give you a hint about The Iron Duke here is a quote from the back of the book:

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero.  Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power – and fear- of his name.  And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mia Wentwork in his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.”

Of course that will not be as simple as he thinks.  The body is a message and a threat and any relationship with the Iron Duke will put Mia and her family in danger.  This is a book I found very hard to put down. The Iron Duke has conflict, a great plot, interesting characters (look for the Blacksmith), unique technology, action, adventure and of course romance.  Everything it takes for a fascinating story. 

Penguin published The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook in 2010.

I purchased The Iron Duke from Borders



No comments: