When Nowhere is Safe
Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?
Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.
When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.
The book is well worth the shower of stars it has received. I enjoyed it immensely and have great hopes for the next book in the series, Heart of Iron, due out in .. well, I don't know when it's due out actually, but I hope it's soon.
There were a couple of things that seemed familiar about this book. When the blue bloods were explained, the explanation involved a virus (not nanos) from the far East (the ruling family in China). This made me think of Meljean Brook and her Iron Duke.
Blue bloods are not quite vampires. They have incredible speed and strength, hearing, eyesight, and etc., etc. These attributes increase in strength as the virus builds in their blood until they begin to go into the Fade. Hair and skin bleach, they become dessicated and acquire a rotten smell and while they may have some sort of brain, there's not much of it left. They Turn and are fully vampire, wanting nothing but blood and destruction. This reminded me of Ilona Andrew's vampires, who themselves were such a change from the sexy, almost human kind so many authors write of these days.
There are twists and turns in this story that separate Ms McMaster's world from any other. The struggle between Blade and Honoria, for one. Stubborn, stubborn people who, thank God, can admit they're wrong. The subtlety of Blade's relationship with his men. The Darkness he fights daily, especially after he meets Honoria. His fear that he's near the Fade.
Honoria is a strong heroine. Intelligent, educated. Stubborn and determined. She stands up to Blade in her ladylike way and earns his respect as well as his lust. Watching these two turn lust into love while learning to trust each other, is a privilege.
It's a little confusing at the beginning of the book. The author doesn't infodump but instead incorporates the world building into the ongoing story, so it can be confusing. But I soon found my feet and sorted everthing out and off I went on a really grand ride.
I don't do good synopses, not even for my own books, so this is what you get, y'all. It's worth the $1.99 at Amazon (I forgot to look at the other places) and for those who like steampunk, I highly recommend this book.
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ReplyDeleteI like steampunk. I believe I'll try this.
ReplyDeleteYou may not think you are good at writing synopses, but this is a review doing what a review is supposed to do, and doing it very well indeed: what it is, what you liked about it and why--and why other people would like it too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carolyn.