Early Review: Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster (London Steampunk #1)

Egalley thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanka


Synopsis from Goodreads
He craves her like no other...

Honoria Todd has no choice. Only in the dreaded Whitechapel district can she escape the long reach of the Duke of Vickers. But seeking refuge there will put her straight into the hands of Blade, legendary master of the rookeries. No one would dare cross him, but what price would he demand to keep her safe?

Ever since Vickers infected him with the craving, Blade has been quicker, stronger, almost immortal—and terrified of losing control of the monster within. Honoria could be his perfect revenge against the duke…or the salvation he never dared to dream of.


Release date: September 1st 2012

Amazon  US/UK | Amazon kindle US($5.94)/UK(£3.70) | The Book Depository US/UK(£3.74) | Fishpond

9/10

* * *
Please, someone, hold me! This book is scorching. *grinning*

If you're looking for pure steampunk, this is not it. Kiss of Steel is a paranormal historical romance with steampunk-ish elements, and oh boy it's done sooo well!


You get a classic trope of a damsel in distress falling on hard times and living in poor areas of London with two younger siblings. However, Honoria Todd is no gentle flower. Her father was an inventor working on a vaccine against vampirism for one of the vampires of aristocracy - Duke of Vickers. When Honoria's father experiments became way too dangerous and Vickers games of cat and mouse with Honoria got more and more twisted, the family fled but not without their father getting murdered.

Now Honoria is hiding in dark and dingy Whitechapel's apartments and dreading the moment when local master of the rookeries, Blade, will come knocking on her door asking to pay him for her protection.

Blade was absolutely fabulous, roguish, seductive, sharp and dangerous. He is a vampire hybrid who's been fighting his descent to madness for a long time and who hates all vampiric aristocracy and especially Vickers, his personal enemy.

He knows that Vickers put a huge price on Honoria's head and tries to keep her close in hopes that his enemy will get close enough for him to strike the Duke. There is plenty of politics, intrigues, experiments and wonderful secondary characters, but most of all, there is this undeniable, crackling with tension chemistry between Blade and Honoria, and this pretty much makes the book.

Of course, there is a bonus of vampire sword duel, but hey, who's counting? *wink*  

I think, that fans of Firelight and Moonglow by Kristen Callihan will enjoy Bec McMaster as well.

* * *
Шикарный исторический паранормальный роман с элементами стимпанка! Я просто балдела пока его читала.

Тут вам и вампиры-аристократы, правящие Англией, эксперименты над людьми, безумие, что охватывает вампиров чем дольше те живут, что превращает их в монстров, политика, интриги, секреты и романтика в стиле Элизабет Хойт.

Хонория Тодд - дочка экспериментатора, работавшего на Герцога Викерса, и пытавшегося найти вакцину против вампиризма. Когда его эксперименты начали угрожать его собственной жизни и когда нездоровый интерес Викерса к самой Хонории перешёл все границы, семья совершила побег, в процессе которого сам отец был убит.

Теперь Хонория с братом и сестрой прячется в Уитчапеле - беднейшем и опаснейшем районе Лондона и с замирающим сердцем ждёт когда Блэйд, криминальный король Уитчапеля, постучит в её дверь и заставит её платить за  свою "защиту".

Блэйд получился у автора наивкуснейшим главным героем, вампиром, каждый  день борющимся с нарастающим с возрастом безумством, и в то же время человеком, заботящимся о своих друзьях, сооблазнительным, обаятельным и беспощадным, когда ему это нужно.

Блэйд знает, что за голову Хонории назначена награда, но Викерс - его личный враг, именно Викерс ответсвенен за его вампиризм, и вот уже много лет Блэйд пытается выманить того из безопасных районов Лондона и наконец-то прикончить. Он надеется, что Хонория станет его наживкой.

Однако когда они начинают общаться, их влечение друг к другу, искры между ними настолько феноменальны, что планы Блэйда принимают интересный оборот...

Помимо всего, в книге есть обаяшка вервульф и вампирская дуэль на мечах, но кто считает? *смеясь*

ЧИТАЙТЕ!

Comments

  1. I just want you to know that your reviews constantly make me want to genre-jump. I do sometimes like paranormal romance and I also love steampunk.

    Plus, heroines that aren't gentle flowers? THE BEST.

    Any book that leaves you grinning is a good book. I love when I put a book down and am stuck grinning like a fool for a while because I'm so charmed by the romance or humor I just read.

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  2. I read very little paranormal romance, Christina, and this one is not full of PNR cliches, more like it follows historical romance tradition which didn't bother me at all. It was just so entertaining and easily read, - please jump the genre with me! ;)

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  3. Ohhhh *jumps up and down*
    I have it too so now I can't wait to read it. I hope I will like it as much as you did

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  4. You won me over at the word "scorching" adding this to my ENORMOUS list of books I want to buy.

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  5. Blodeuedd, read it quickly, so we can compare notes :)

    Lesley, you won't regret reading it. It was fun and hot. I loved it!

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