From the moment Rhys sets eyes on Mina, he wants to possess her. Unfortunately he does not understand that a strong woman like Mina, a woman who has had to put up with more prejudice and hatred than many people, will not be any man’s possession. But just one touch, one look and he will have her. Murder may have brought them together but it is only the start of where their connection will take them. To airships, zombies, krakens, and more, Mina and Rhys will test their connection in some awful circumstances. Will they come out on top? Will Rhys start to truly understand the kind of woman Mina is?
There is so much to this story, so much worldbuilding, that I cannot truly articulate all of it. Suffice it to say that Meljean Brook sets up an amazing steampunk adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I was instantly hooked by Mina. She is the kind of female protagonist I admire immensely. She deals with a lot of bad things in her life and unfortunately, the Horde is still leaving their mark on her life. She yearns for freedom but wonders if that is even possible. Mina may not be made of iron like Rhys but from the tips of her toes to her head, she is a woman of force.
Rhys is hard to his core but he is about to discover someone who makes him vulnerable in a way the Horde or zombies never could have. Mina represents hopes and dreams he thought long left behind. On his ship, the Terror, they live out those dreams in intimate detail but that may not be enough to keep Mina by his side. Truly, Meljean Brook has an amazing ability to keep the tension of this book climactic throughout the entire story. The characters are a quirky bunch who add much to the background but by far, Mina and Rhys steal the show, and frankly, this reader’s heart.
THE IRON DUKE may be classified as a steampunk romance adventure but truly it is just a great, great story. Multifaceted characters with depth and imperfections, a fantastic setting and details of this world add so much to the story. Meljean Brook, you are an utterly captivating writer!
