Riveted (A NOVEL OF THE IRON SEAS) [Kindle Edition]

Meljean Brook (Author)

Book Description

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 steampunk and passionate romance . . .

 

A century after a devastating volcanic eruption forced Iceland’s inhabitants to abandon its shores, the island has become enshrouded in legend. Fishermen tell tales of giant trolls guarding the land and of seductive witches who steal men’s hearts. But the truth behind the legends is mechanical, not magic—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 the airship Phatéon, flying from port to port in search of her sister and longing to return home . . . but that home is threatened when expedition leader David Kentewess comes aboard.

 

Determined to solve the mystery of his own origin, David will stop at nothing to expose Annika’s secrets. But when disaster strikes, leaving David and Annika stranded on a glacier and pursued by a madman, their very survival depends on keeping the heat rising between them—and generating lots of steam . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Iron Duke

 

“Meljean Brook has brilliantly defined the new genre of Steampunk Romance.”

—Jayne Ann Krentz,New York Times bestselling author

 

“A stunning blend of steampunk setting and poignant romance.”

—Ilona Andrews, New York Times bestselling author

 

“With adept writing and a flair for creating believable worlds, Brook’s first in the Iron Seas series showcases her masterful storytelling.”

—Booklist

About the Author

Meljean Brook is the author of the Guardian paranormal romance series and Iron Seas steampunk series.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 493 KB
• Print Length: 413 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0425256049
• Publisher: Berkley (September 4, 2012)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008EXNU9I
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,962 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Steampunk Romance! September 16, 2012

By Lethia01

Format:Kindle Edition

Firstly, I would like to point how how much I like the UK cover over the US cover for this book. The heroine of this book, Annika Fridasdotter, is described as being a Liberé or "a descendant of the Africans". In my mind, this means that there's a good chance that Annika is biracial. The person I pictured in my head while reading this book looks closer to the UK cover model than the US. Both are lovely looking women but, the UK one follows closer to the book's description. The image of David Kentewess is pretty much spot on...except I don't think David would have his shirt open like that. Just doesn't follow with how the character acts.

One aspect of this book that I want to touch upon is the village that Annika is from and their unique culture. I'll try to touch on this without giving too many spoilers away but, I really was surprised (in a good way) about this village. Annika's village is basically the Scandinavian Amazon's. I village of both tough and nurturing women only raising girls. The boys are either left with their fathers or the mother's permanently leave the village to raise their sons. This village is described in a way to make the women seem very vibrant. You have the mothering type women and the fierce type women that protect the village. Sexuality in this village is very open and accepting. If you fall in love with someone of the same gender or a man, there is no condemnation. This could have been really hokey and fairly hippie sounding but, I thought this village was very well done and really added to Annika's motivations and character.

Annika is a vibrant and hard working young woman that is trying to find her sister, Källa. By finding jobs on air ships, Annika is able to visit various ports throughout this world and attempt to contact her sister. Annika has a passion for clothing and style and is very talented at understanding and working the inner systems of the airship. She meets David Kentewess on one of the air ships stops and there's an instant interest between the two. David recognizes similarities between Annika and his deceased mother. Annika is David's only hope at find his mother's people and honoring her last request.

The romance between Annika and David slowly develops. Both characters are fairly guarded about their privacy and have a difficult time accepting another on an intimate level. The emotional aspect of their relationship is really well developed and it helps to make the physical aspect more passionate. I mean, WOW!!

This was a fantastic book and I highly recommend reading it!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Urban Fantasy and romance September 6, 2012

By Jessie Potts TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Riveted is part of Brook's Iron Seas series (the third book, in fact) that is known for its fantasy, its scorching heat and its steampunk adventure. You have a timid heroine who is looking for her sister, a man made of metal and nano agents, an Icelandic setting and two people who don't fit anywhere but fit together. How can you ask for a better plot?

Brook is a good author. I say that because The Iron Duke blew rival urban steampunk romances out of the water with its action adventure and hot relationship. One would think that would make a good formula for the next novel, but no, Brook then writes a completely different hero/heroine and creates an even more chemically explosive couple than ever before. Each of her books are unique and yet compatible. If you love steampunk (real steampunk, not just clockwork everywhere) and, of course, true love, then pick up Riveted.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A RIVETING Read!!! September 17, 2012

By Maryland reader

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is perhaps the best book so far in the "Iron Seas" series. This story has humor, love, pirates, monsters, trolls, good guys, bad guys, scary guys and poor sots stuck in the middle! The main characters, Annika and David are quirky and kind, lovable and awkward, and both are very resilient, though they may not see themselves this way. I will caution you that the story starts a bit slowly, but that's because these characters are so rich and I think the author HAD to spend the time so that we could clearly see where these two are coming from, and where they think they are going. Annika thinks that she is going to keep sailing the seas and putting her life on hold until she can find her sister, and David thinks that he is going to fulfill a promise to his mother and go on a volcanic expedition in Iceland. After a fashion they may accomplish their goals, but its what happens to them on the way that makes this a wonderful love story first and foremost, and an excellent steam-punk adventure.

One reviewer complained about the subplots with same-sex love story(ies), saying that she just wants a nice boy-meets-girl story. Rest assured, at the heart of this story that's just what it is. Having said that, Annika comes from a culture of all women. I couldn't help thinking of the Amazons. If "Wonder Woman" were written today, what would we be thinking of the women on HER island? I think that the situation in Hannasvik is a reasonable one to draw given the premise of an all female culture, and Annika loves her mother and her sisters, and so it naturally flows that she would want those people she brings into her life to accept them.

All of the characters were very human. To her credit, even her bad guys had reasons for doing what they did and you could see where they were coming from.

This was a lovely, fun and exciting read.

More About the Author

Meljean was raised in the middle of the woods, and hid under her blankets at night with fairy tales, comic books, and romances. She left the forest and went on a misguided tour through the world of accounting before focusing on her first loves, reading and writing-and she realized that monsters, superheroes, and happily-ever-afters are easily found between the covers, as well as under them, so she set out to make her own.

Meljean lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.