When her beloved father was assassinated, Lady Aramina swore revenge. The man responsible is well beyond her grasp, but his dangerously seductive heir, Leo Barrons, is fair game. When Mina obtains evidence proving that Leo is illegitimate, she has the means to destroy both the killer and his son, a man who troubles her heart and tempts her body.
A woman of mystery, Mina's long driven Leo crazy with glimpses of a fiery passion that lurks beneath her icy veneer. He knows she's hiding something, and he's determined to unravel her layer by silken layer. He just doesn't expect the beautiful liar to be the key to overthrowing the corrupt prince consort… or to saving his own carefully walled-off heart.
Kidnapped by a dread pirate when she was a child, USA Today Bestselling Author Bec McMaster was raised on myth and legend, and offered her younger siblings to the goblin king many a time. Unfortunately, he did not accept.
Now she writes epic fantasy romance with a dark and sexy twist, which is almost as much fun. She has a secret weakness for villainous heroes, wicked fae princes and dangerous vampires, though in all her daydreams, she’s the one rescuing them.
Bec lives happily-ever-after with her very own hero and princess-in-training in the wilds of Australia, where she can often be found drinking tea or plotting her next travel adventure.
Bec McMaster’s LONDON STEAMPUNK series was my first experience with this particular Science Fiction subgenre, and I vividly remember being completely taken with this author’s romantic writing style and alternate British Victorian era universe. After the first two installments, I found that the plot sputtered slightly, and then began its decline with FORGED BY STEEL. I briefly considered skipping OF SILK AND STEAM until I read the blurb, and realized that this was going to be Lady Aramina’s story, the only female councilor among the Echelon. This novel triumphantly rekindled my love of this world, and its characters in one fell swoop.
The leading plot arc reaches its zenith in book 5, and what a beautiful thing it was! I enjoyed the way that the Blue Blood’s political conspiracies developed side-by-side Mina & Leo’s relationship, and that both threads held a comparable amount of intrigue. It’s difficult to analyze these two aspects much further without giving anything away, and I don’t want to mar McMaster’s coup de grâce, but I will go so far as to confirm that the rookeries, humanist mouvement, Council of Dukes, Ivory Tower, and Nighthawks powerhouses all clash.
Readers have been getting small peeks at the Duke of Caine’s heir throughout this series, and the Duchess of Casavian as well, although to a lesser degree because of her Ice Queen persona. I delighted in getting to know both of their characters on a deeper level; Mina’s position within the Echelon was hard won, so her unwillingness to trust was logical, especially given her mysterious alliances. Barrons was more of an open book; I liked how he matched his lady’s gumption tit for tat, and stayed true to his course regardless of the obstacles of which there were many.
What initially began as a straightforward feud between families speedily mutated into a complex Rubik cube of un-unravelable secrets, and unbeknownst deception. The main couple’s relationship was definitely one of the more problematic out of the five visited so far, however you know what they say… the bigger the challenge the greater the reward! Mina and Leo set my eReader on FIRE with their insatiable hungers. I also utterly enjoyed touching base with all of this series’ previous pairings, and how McMaster effortlessly worked them into this tale.
OF SILK AND STEAM made it into my top 3, possibly top 2 favourite LONDON STEAMPUNK installments.
Within Echelon, the rebellion finally arises. The prince consort finally shows his true colour openly. The rulers on the Council of Dukes are being elimated, only the prince consort trusted remain. The political conspiracies develop the relationship of Leo Barrons, the bastard son and Duke of Caine's heir and Aramina (Mina), Duchess of Casavian, the only female councilor of Echelon.
Mina was considered as the ice princess but there was more of her. She was infected with the virus by her father on his death bed. Being a woman it was a hard earned position in achieving the goals. She is determined to take revenge on her father's murder. The accuse being the Duke of Caine who is unavailable but his son will do.
Leo to my great surprise turned out to be one of my favourite hero from this series. Leo is living a lie, he isn't what he is but he too worked hard for the position he is in now. But his hard work comes to ruins when his secret is found out by a certain ice queen and his most wanted infatuation.
Mina fights her attraction towards Leo, but Leo is not letting her go easy. Leo was always attracted to Mina, this time he rages to pursue her. Mina is off-balance by Leo's kindness and flirtitious behaviour. Her wall of emotions breaks and her focuse changes.
This book brings an end to the political culmination from the ruthless prince consort. It was so good to see all the characters from the previous books present here. This world is build with intrigue and danger. A skillful world build with detailed information. The series should not be read as standalone, you could miss some basic information. I highly recommend this series. Truly this Victorian Steampunk series leaves us mesmerized.
She might have damned well been invisible, but she had learned. Beauty could be a curse or it could be used, and she had learned to use it well over the years.
I loved this series and I loved Bec McMaster's writing! And the characters! Even when I had issues with them I never got to actually dislike them. That makes me happy. Feeling close to the characters is important to me folks. I will definitely be reading more of her books.
5 "Allies in Love and War" Stars! Steampunk Romance: who knew? What started out as a mistaken click, may very well have opened a whole new romance world for me! I absolutely loved Of Silk and Steam. Something of a hybrid between a historical, paranormal and a science-fiction romance, Steampunk Romance combines the best of many of the romance sub-genres that I enjoy, with the added benefit of bestowing it all in one convenient package. Intrigue, suspense, romance, creativity, unpredictable twists and turns and, lots of "steamy" passion! Of course the London Steampunk world also contains steam-powered machinery, in this case somewhat akin to fighting robots, and is set in an alternate version of the 19th Century British Victorian era, which are the signature traits of Steampunk Romance. The combination of all these fantastic factors turned Of Silk and Steam into a magical, mesmerizing read for me. I just couldn't get enough of this book which I devoured in just a couple of sittings.
First off, I think it is worth noting that this series is meant to be read in order, as the underlying world continues to evolve over each sequential read. That said, as Ms. McMaster does a fantastic job of retelling the prior history, I had no trouble following the plot or understanding the players and the underlying political conflict, notwithstanding that I have not read any of the prior books. Moreover, the romance is completely contained within this book, as each book primarily focuses on a different couple. However, reading the series out of order, means that there are spoilers from the prior books that have already been revealed should you later choose to go back and read the prior books. That notwithstanding, my interest has now been piqued and I plan to go back, starting with Book 1, Kiss of Steal, to experience Blade's and Honoria's story.
Lady Aramina, is the only female "Blue Blood". Blue Bloods have superhuman strength and healing abilities and are very difficult to kill. Only sons of royal Blue Bloods are typically approved by the Council of Dukes to be infected with the "craving virus" which turns a human into a Blue Blood. However, having taken matters into his own hands at his deathbed, Lady Aramina's father ensured that Lady Aramina had a fighting chance of becoming his heir by infecting her with the virus. The downside of the virus is that, at its extreme, it can turn a Blue Blood into a vampire, who loses all rationality and only knows an insane craving for blood. Blue Bloods who reach this level are usually exterminated, so maintaining an optimal level of the craving virus without letting it overtake you, is of paramount importance in this world.
Notwithstanding that Lady Aramina does ultimately win a duel to assume her father's position on the coveted Council of Dukes, which rule London, and that she is the only woman to do so, Lady Aramina is still not even close to achieving her life goals. Instead, she is determined to avenge her father's murder. Unfortunately for her, the man who she suspects killed her father is another Duke who holds a seat on the Council of Dukes, and therefore is practically untouchable. His son, Leo Barrons, however, who happens to be his current proxy on the Council due to the Duke's mysterious illness, is not, particularly given the secret that the Duchess has just discovered which could completely ruin Leo.
To her great surprise, however, the closer Mina gets to Leo, the more she seems to genuinely like him, and the more closely aligned their political aspirations seem to be, a feeling which they mutually share. Soon passions roar, and nearly at the same time, the political situation on the Council likewise reaches a pinnacle. It's time to pick sides in love and war. Could Leo possibly be the ally that will help Mina achieve her political goals, even if she has to give up her dreams to avenge her father's murder in the process? Moreover, being in the unique position, given the time period, of not needing a man to provide for, or protect, her, will Mina ever willingly trust any man enough to commit to any sort of contract (whether thrall--more akin to a mistress-- or consort--like a marriage) that would be necessary for any form of a long-term relationship?
The intricate nature of the plot absolutely blew me away! So well crafted, you could easily envision such a situation, full of the class struggles between the poor and rich and their political sympathizers easily actually having taken place. I equally adored the romance aspects of this novel. I love it when a feisty, smart and headstrong heroine finds her match, who when working together, are capable of limitless possibilities. Delivering on all fronts, Of Silk and Steam, is a new top favorite. I can't wait to read more of the amazing London Steampunk series!
Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
That's how you end a series with a BANG. The previous books of the series were packed with action as well but, holy shit, this one was epic. What had started to brewing in the first book, now exploded in the last one. Every missing piece came to a place. Brilliantly written. There were secrets from the beginning of the series that I almost forgot about them, there weren't reviled until the very end. I loved how everything was connected somehow. Standing ovation for Bec McMaster who wrote this wonderful and powerful story with the most amazing cast of characters.
I adored all the couples (even Garrett and Perry whom, despite being my least favorites I still liked very much), so Leo and Aramina were no exception. (Lynch and Rosa are still my absolute favorites, though 💖). I was shipping these two from the very start of the series. All this suppressed sexual tension was scorching hot even back then. Now imagine how hot they were, after four books finally coming together. They literary set the whole London on fire LOL
And I must say that they were the most romantic couple, in my opinion. So many emotions. My heart broke for Leo several times. They were all tortured heroes in different ways and I can't say he had the most difficult life. But something about him just shattered me. Maybe his childhood or maybe the fact that he felt utterly abandoned from everyone for so long. Seeing him with Mina, how they finally opened themselves to each other. It was truly beautiful, I have no words. Like I said, the perfect ending for the series.
I loved how all the characters from the previous books got to play a significant role (even if a small one) at the end. After all, the whole lot of them were together in this almost from the start. And I liked that they become like some kind of an extended family. The epilogue melted my heart.
Luckily for me, I will not have to say goodbye to this wonderful world for quite some time yet. I'm looking forward to getting lost again in this Victorian steampunkish London in the spin-off series. There are a lot of characters that were already introduced like Charlie, Lark, Ingrid, Byrnes, Ava, Kincaid, Malloryn. It would be great to get reacquainted with them and also meet the new ones.
Overall, I can't recommend this enough. Grab it ASAP and find out for yourself. If you want to read some more of my fangirling, here are my reviews of the previous books.
I’m not sure why I picked up this, the last in the author’s London Steampunk series without having read any of the others, other than that I’ve been meaning to give her books a try for a while and when I saw this on NetGalley, I thought “why not?”
Bec McMaster has created a complex world, full of intrigue and danger, and an intricate social hierarchy which is teetering on the brink. It took me a little while to work out what was what, but she has skilfully built in enough information for a new reader to be able to pick up the basics without too much trouble and without impeding the flow of the story. I think I would have liked to have read the others first – and intend to go back to them – but it’s just about possible to read this as a standalone, although I probably missed some of the subtler nuances.
In this version of Victorian London, steam and clockwork are powering technological advances, and the ruling classes are “blue-bloods”, who have superhuman strength, the ability to heal quickly and recover from almost anything – and who are, as a result, hard to kill. Only the highest born are selected to become blue-bloods, infected with the craving virus as part of a ritual and needing a regular supply of blood in order to survive. (It sounds like vampirism, but in this world, a vampire is a blue-blood coming to the end of their lives, one who loses their humanity and becomes a mindless killer). The country is ruled by the Echelon, the council of blue-blood dukes and the queen and prince-consort. But the queen is little more than a puppet, kept docile by the regular administration of drugs and her husband’s beatings, and the prince consort is the de facto ruler, a ruthless man who is steadily eliminating all opposition. The “normal” humans have been chafing against the harsh rule imposed upon them and punitive blood-taxes, leading to the rise of a humanist movement that is waiting for the moment to instigate rebellion.
Lord Leo Barrons is the son of the Duke of Caine, and has taken his father’s place on the Echelon due to the duke’s illness. But Leo is living a lie – he’s the duke’s acknowledged heir, but Caine is not his biological father – and he has long struggled to find his place in the world, feeling he doesn’t quite fit in among the ruling classes, and having to hide his humanist sympathies. But when the truth of his birth is unexpectedly revealed, he is accused of treason and has to run for his life – taking with him as a hostage Lady Aramina Duvall, the Duchess of Casavian who is one of only two female blue-bloods and a close friend of Queen Alexia. The only people Leo can turn to are his siblings and their spouses, who operate from London’s rookeries and who are also heavily involved in the upcoming rebellion.
Leo and Aramina – Mina – have a history going back years. She holds Leo and his father responsible for the slow, painful death of her father and wants her revenge – but she’s also fighting an attraction to Leo that she wants to pretend doesn’t exist. She’s a great character – a strong, independent woman in what is very much a man’s world, a woman who wields a great deal of power and influence but who is walking a political tightrope, trying to help the queen and preserve her appearance of loyalty to the Echelon while at the same time working behind the scenes to bring about its downfall.
Leo and Mina have both appeared in previous books, and from reading the author’s notes, I know that his is the story readers have been waiting for. He’s been deeply attracted to Mina for years, but his attitude towards her tends towards the light-hearted and flirtatious; he’s trying to show her he cares for her but without the risk of showing her too much. But deep down, he longs for the kind of contentment his sisters have in their relationships, he wants someone to belong to and who belongs to him, and his heart is set on Mina. His kindness towards her keeps Mina off-balance, causing her to question everything she’s ever believed about him, but she’s become so used to protecting herself from everyone and everything around her, to walling off her emotions and focusing on her cause that she can’t quite bring herself to take that final step and trust him, even when it appears they might actually be working towards the same end.
Together, they’re an explosive combination. They strike sparks off each other all the time, and have scorching chemistry in the romance department; and as a working team, they’re fantastic, too. One of the really admirable things about Leo is the way he trusts Mina to be able to do what needs to be done. Even when their backs are against the wall and everything in him is crying out to go to her and protect her, he knows she’s capable of getting the job done and lets her do it. Their romance is passionate and sexy, as Mina’s Ice Maiden persona finally melts under Leo’s determined pursuit. Along the way, they forge a deep emotional connection as well, discovering that perhaps they have more in common than either of them had ever thought possible. My one issue with their relationship is that while Leo put himself out there time after time and proves himself worthy of trust, Mina keeps holding back and refusing to take that final step and let herself believe in him, which gets a little frustrating, especially in the later stages of the book.
Of Silk and Steam is a fast-paced, action-packed read, full of political intrigue and unexpected plot twists, culminating in a revolution and a nail-biting showdown. Ms McMaster has done a splendid job building her Steampunk vision of London, and the writing and characterisation is very strong all round. I’m definitely going back to the beginning to read the other books in the series, and will be very interested to see what Ms McMaster turns her hand to next.
I'm so sad to see the end of the London Steampunk series! It has wildly surpassed my expectations and I enjoyed this final installment almost as much as the previous books.
I have to admit after having two (and a half!) Nighthawk focused books I greatly missed that angle! I would love to read detective steampunk novels about the Nighthawks... I really enjoyed all the quirky people working there plus the detective dynamic.
But I digress! This book picks back up with Leo Barrons - Honoria and Lena's half brother bringing their group back into the focus. They have been plotting with the other characters from the first four novels to overthrow the mad Prince Consort.
Lady Aramina, nicknamed Mina, has also been in these novels and seems sympathetic to the previous heroines. I had suspicions about her goals and they are all revealed in this novel.
Mina and Leo have a rivalry because Mina believes Leo's father murdered her father . Well Mina dislikes Leo and he wants to jump her bones after being impressed by her swordsmanship.
I did not enjoy their courtship as much as others - but I think they made a great pair once they started working together. I also liked them a lot individually. I enjoyed seeing the previous characters come back and seeing a very satisfying conclusion of the overall storyline.
9/4/2017 On reread, I'm bumping this down to 3 stars, and almost all of that is for how the political side of things plays out. I loved seeing the different protagonists from the various books working together, I loved the big plot twist in regards to the Queen, and I really enjoyed the way that the big climax of the story played out.
HOWEVER.
The romantic relationship in this one? N.O.P.E.
Leo is ridiculously controlling and constantly ignores all signals where consent is concerned. Mina is constantly being like "Please stop" and he's all "I mean, I WOULD? But I know you really want me to stick my hand down your pants, so I'mma do that anyway and you'll just come around to the idea". There's one moment where he takes a kiss as consent for sex. Mina spends the first...60%??...of the book basically hating Leo and not wanting to be around him, telling him to stop touching her, then swooning when he ignores what she just said.
Add in the phrase "she impaled herself on his cock", and no thank you please.
So yeah. The politics/overarching story side of things? FABULOUS. The romance can go die in a fire.
4/8/2015 3.5 stars. This series is a lot of fun. This series is also major cheese-ville. Like, this is a steampunk vampire story in which a handful of vampires join with humans to overthrow the government, led by the deranged vampire prince regent. But it's also basically porn with plot. The characters are a lot of fun, but at certain points in the story it gets very...descriptive. Items of clothing are torn. Pieces of furniture will never be the same again. Penises spring free of their cloth prisons.
In short, it's fun but at the same time I couldn't take it seriously to save myself.
Of Silk and Steam is the fifth and final book in the London Steampunk series.
Though this book was great, some parts felt rushed because the author tried to tie all loose ends.
Leo and Aramina are one of the best couples in this series cause they are not only from the same world, but they are also both similar in terms of strategizing and going for what they want.
There is a lot more to Aramina than she lets on. I love all the revelations and things I found out about her.
Then there's Leo, he has a terrible childhood, and he was so cold in Kiss of Steel, but he has come a long way. I love his redemption, and it was gradual instead of happening overnight.
Finally, I love how all the characters from the previous books were in this. All their planning and plotting finally came to a glorious end.
I will be reading the spin-off series, and I need to know what happens next.
A fantastic ending of a fantastic series!!! WOW, just WOW!!!
Please take care: if you haven't read all the previous books, you'll not fully enjoy this one! Because here we tie all the loose ends! :)
But, this is also Leo and Mina's love story. And what a story it is!
This book is full of action: the unrest inside the Echelon is boiling, boiling, boiling and finally explodes! With a bang! The prince consort is completly out of his head and even if he's not in Fade, he completly out of control and starts killing his opponents! The Queen's life is in peril too.
Obviously Mina and Leo are in the eye of the hurricane. They are working separately for the same aim: eliminating the prince consort, but each doesn't know that the other is working on the same thing.
If only they trusted each other... Unfortunatly their antagonism is strong and they don't trust anybody.
But, spurred by the prince consort crazyness, they're forced together and their attraction forces them to work together. And WOW!!! When the passion is unleashed, it is over the top!
A wonderful, wonderful series! I'm so sorry it is finished, but at the same time I applaud Ms. McMaster for not pushing it. This way, knowing the beginning and the end I can say that the series is not only great, but FANTASTIC!
I don't know what's going on with Bec McMaster but she seems to be writing her best books in odd numbers. Kiss of Steel, My Lady Quicksilver, and now, Of Silk and Steam are all pretty spectacular, while I can't even remember the names of books in between.
In many aspects the latest book brings to fruition all those various plans and plot threads which have been building throughout the first four books. It starts a revolution, and Leo & Aramina serve as the catalysts of this dramatic series of changes.
Leo is a lovely character. Dashing, romantic and comfortable enough in his skin to not be afraid of Mina's giving him a cold shoulder. He falls in love with her when they are both very young, and bides his time until some unfortunate circumstances throw them together as unwilling partners in crime.
Mina is a strong and likable heroine. With her status as one of the only two female vamps in Britannia she had to fight twice as hard to prove that she was in full control of her nature. As a result she is notoriously famous for her icy behaviour & unpredictable political alliances.
When those two finally collide - they are FUN! Their inner children come out to play, they are fiery bold, quick witted and brave to the point of desperation. We also see the rest of the gang again - Blade & Honoria, Lena & Will, Rosalind & Lynch, and Garret & Perry, which is like the best thing ever!*grinning*
This book is choke full of action, grisly, bloody battles, emotional moments and sex. Yes, quite a lot of steamy sex, even at the most inconvenient of times... Anyway! It's an excellent romantic adventure, very atmospheric and entirely satisfying. Read it!
I dearly recommend this book, this author and this series for several reasons.
1. The Steampunk genre. I'm really fascinated by the thought of a future, how it could have been, in the victorian era. It's not easy to describe this genre, but for me it stands between HR and Sci-Fi, and the mix is working surprisingly well because it's refreshing, unique, and gives the author space to play with curious inventions, mannerisms and cultural influences.
2. The Excitement. This author surely knows how to create a perfect blend of action, pacing and plot twists. It was like watching an action-movie (a good one, mind you), with several mystery and thriller aspects, creating some major questions and leaving the important ones until the end. Fast, enticing, with enough grit.
3. The characters. The main characters, Leo and Aramina, had great chemistry going, and I loved that it was not solemly focused on the sexual feelings, but their arguments and dialogues were a great way to see how they got from enemies, to kind of friends, to lovers, to conflicted lovers, to two people in love.
4. The world-building and secondary characters went well together, I love this author for her ability to create some serious conflicts, and connecting the series with those main conflicts. The secondary characters had depth and weren't decoration to the main plot, so it mashed up to a real feeling within this Sci/Fi-HR-mixture.
4.5 Stars. Barron and Mina, finally. They've been dancing around each other forever...but it was well worth the wait.
Mina has long been aware of Barrons as a man, and he quite attracted to her. Being the heir-apparent to the Duke of Caine, their paths often cross on a social and political level. Even as the sexual tension between them begins to heat up, Mina is wary of a man that she cannot trust. When a scandal erupts concerning Barrons, however, Mina comes to realize that they are on the same side. Both want to destroy the Prince Consort and his rule, and both wish to find a way for their country to come together and for all citizens to be equal.
This series continues to be one of the better Steampunk series currently being written. From the amazing airships to the mech armies used to attack the rookeries, the story is a nonstop roller coaster ride. Add to that the excellent wordbuilding, fascinating plotline, and steamy romance, and Bec McMaster has herself another winner. All of the story is an excellent read, but once Mina and Barrons come together working on the same side, the story explodes in intensity and passion. Plus, lots of fun little peeks into the lives of previous couples.
Holy smokes..McMaster ended this series with dramatic flair!
After all the posturing, scheming, and maneuvering, it all comes down to this. Lines have been drawn and war has arrived. Each character has a specific purpose to serve; their actions, alone or together, to determine which way the tide will turn. The battle waged on two fronts. The political landscape was obvious, showcasing power and brute force. However, the personal battle was riskier since it involved a battle for the heart. Leo Barrons and Lady Aramina’s story was loaded with deceptive looks, keen intelligence, and combustible seductions....oh my word.. I loved every delicious moment!
Book 5 in the London Steampunk series, Of Silk and Steam was an exhilarating conclusion to a carefully structured and well written storyline. With each entry of this series, McMaster not only captured my attention with her creative world building, political scheming, and strong characters, but she also created a stunning landscape that allowed my imagination to flourish in happy delight! These books were totally worth the loss of sleep!
I really wish this had been better for me. I'd been looking forward to this couple from the first book, plus MORE ABOUT THE QUEEN, but it just . . . didn't quite work. Some of it was just too much ACTION and PLOT at the end, when I wanted more time for the relationship. And I guess it just didn't meet my half-formed expectations for the couple.
I don't know that I can explain it more than that.
Bec McMaster’s books helped me to love the steampunk world. A world filled with mechanisms is fascinating enough, but even more enjoyable is the politics and culture surrounding it. Who controls the technology? How is technology a currency? Where is the intersection between technology and humanity?
Enter into this steampunk world shifters, vampires, humans and other supernaturals in conflict. The vampires, actually pre-vampire blue bloods, are at the top of the social order because of their super human powers. The leader of the monarchy is a human controlled by a blue blood. The prince consort is maniacally set on maintaining the hierarchy.
Characters from previous books – Blade and Honoria, Lena and Will, Jasper and Rosalind, Garrett and Perry, Charlie, Lark, Rip and Esme all make an appearance. We learn who is actually behind the humanist movement and why they are involved. We reach the culmination of all the books when war breaks out between the blue bloods and everyone else. Everything is at risk.
Within this complicated world comes complex politics, and the relationship between Leo and Mina could easily be overwhelmed. However, Bec McMaster has a gift to balance all the elements. Mina and Leo’s relationship is very sexy. Their encounters crackle with sexual tension. Because of this stress, the characters are constantly living on the edge. They are forever on the precipice of being discovered or killed. Yet, it is this pressure that makes their game of seduction so thrilling. In particular, I am struck by a very strong “movie moment” when their eyes meet across a courtyard after each is uncertain whether the other is alive. It is achingly beautiful and what follow is a fierce intimate encounter.
IN A NUTSHELL: I can’t say enough about this series. If you want adventure, romance, seduction and intrigue in a steampunk world, you MUST read this series. If you have never read steampunk, read this series to full appreciate this genre.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
My first thought upon reading this was that it was great to be back in this world again! Bec McMaster writes so vividly and her characters are so well-written, that you can't help but love this series!
We begin with Lady Aramina dueling. Lord Leo Barrons sees her and wants her. But what I loved about him, is that he isn't an alphahole character. He's a fantastic hero who wants her and pursues her, but he does it over years, giving her time and space. And most importantly, respect. At one point Mina says that she doesn't understand his motivation. He tells her that she never has. Leo's in love with her. And he's patient, and he's a good guy. You really can't beat him for a hero.
Mina is the cold duchess who is the only female bluebood. And she's so much more than her icy exterior. She has some incredible ideas, but she has to keep them secret. Her position is dependent upon her Ice Queen persona. She may be a bluebood, but she's a woman, and she's not necessarily amongst friends in the Echelon.
We see many different sides of Mina, and along with that, there are many different plots running throughout this book. The Prince Consort has gone mad, some say. Others say he's been quite mad for a while. He's got several cards up his sleeve as well, and as we've seen in the past couple books, revolution is coming. But how will it end? His human queen is at her limit, and is shutting down. If Mina helps her, will she give away her own plans?
Meanwhile, Leo has begun to embrace Blade and Honoria's cause, knowing that the Prince Consort has to go. But he does it at his own peril, for his own position is no longer secure, thanks to Mina's unending thirst for revenge. With both of them plotting towards the same goal, will they learn to trust each other enough to share, let alone love?
This series is an auto-buy for me. With darkly seductive description, this series will grip you tight and not let go until far longer than the last word has been read.
We have had an amazing time reading this steampunk vampire werewolf AU Victorian London series, and Of Silk and Steam wraps it up with a bang. From book 1 (Kiss of Steel) we've been waiting for Leo and Mina to get together, and McMaster wastes no time as they have to work with each other to escape some of the Prince Regent's murderous, illegally-vamped minions by hijacking an airship. This book also sees the plot threads from all of the previous entries in the series come together to form a wild tapestry. Although plenty of characters from the previous books show up, they don't detract from this story. Can Mina come to trust Leo in time to save London from a tyrannous vampire? Can they save the queen? And can they manage to have sex amidst all the mayhem? SPOILER:
Check out this book (and series) if you love atmospheric storytelling that doesn't skimp on the steam.
22-Word Summaries: Laine: Leo learned the importance of family in book one, so now it's Mina's turn, this time with more rebellion, abuse, and blood. Meg: Vampires, werewolves, and steampunk cyborgs unite to bring down an abusive spouse. Our heroes still find time to have sex … everywhere. www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
Really, really good. Bec McMaster is an amazing writer. I love this series and I hope that this is not the end of London Steampunk. I'd love to read about Charlie and Lark.. and more of those viking werewolves please ;)
For fans of the marvelous London Steampunk series, this is the book we’ve been waiting for. I strongly recommend to start this series with the first book, as there is a long-running overall story arc that concludes with Of Silk and Steam.
Readers of the series know that Leo Barrons, acting head of one of the ruling houses sitting on the council of Dukes, isn’t actually the Duke of Caine’s son. A secret he has hidden for nearly his entire life, Leo knows if it is discovered, he will be ruined. Meanwhile, Aramina “Mina” Duvall is the only female blueblood in the Prince’s court. Leo’s father killed her father, the Duke of Casavian, leaving her as his only heir. For this act, Mina is determined to destroy both Leo and his father.
The story opens with Mina carrying out a secret task for the human queen. When the man she rendezvous with is murdered by the prince consort’s personal guard, Mina must recover incriminating evidence from the body. With Leo making an appearance, she reluctantly accepts his help, which places her at a disadvantage of now being in his debt. The pair share an intense and immediate chemistry, of which Leo would like to take advantage. As the pair digs deeper into the situation, they uncover a terrible plot that will impact the entire Echelon, and they must decide if they will trust one another and work together.
Right from the start of Of Silk and Steam, it is clear that Leo wants much more from Mina than a truce and mutual aid. Learning from his point of view that he has long desired and admired her, his playful games at winning her attentions are clearly a way to express his feelings while protecting his heart. He treats Mina with such genuine kindness, it keeps her off balance, causing her to question all that she holds true about her longtime rival. I adore how he never loses faith that he will win her over and the grace he upholds when his heart is broken from betrayal. Barron wants Mina so badly, and not just for her body. He has admired the whole package: looks, wit, brains, brawn, for years and wants her as his partner and equal, yet she can’t understand that. So he has broken her down slowly over the years until now, when it’s time to make his moves.
Unlike Leo, readers don’t know much about Duchess Aramina Duvall, and I for one was pleasantly surprised by some of the amazing details uncovered about her life and interests. She and Leo have far more in common that we have been lead to believe. Since I want this to remain generally spoiler-free, I’m not going to provide details, but suffice to say, the duchess has been a big part of the larger story, and we are made privy to the details over the course of the book. While mostly I enjoyed this part of the story, and really liked how it kept Mina’s attentions divided and uncertain, I was a bit disappointed with the extent of her “reach” within the larger picture.
As with the prior books in this amazing series, the emotional intensity is sublime. Ms. McMasters pens some of the most passionate and electrifying scenes, pulling together emotions, heat, and sensuality to create perfection. In more than one scene, the author leaves at least one of the characters bared to the other, causing my heart to pound. Watching the pair slowly learn to trust one another and explore the flames that fan between them is highly enjoyable.
Beyond the romantic elements of the story, readers are treated to a suspenseful, high octane political thriller as the prince consort exerts his might over the council of Dukes. Signs of insanity bleed through as the ruling blueblood makes irrational decisions and accidents begin to happen to those that oppose him. His actions force a confrontation between the ruling party and Blade, protector of the common folks among the rookeries. Ms. McMaster brings back all her characters and ties up many loose ends to conclude the long-running story arc. I throughly enjoyed watching everything play out and following beloved characters throughout the story.
Of Silk and Steam is another exciting story in the phenomenal London Steampunk series. With its powerful sweep-me-off-my-feet romance and high-intensity action, I found I could not put it down. On its own merits, the book is wonderful, and as part of the larger series, an excellent conclusion - bringing together bits and pieces from each of the preceding books in a powerful culmination. I just hope this wasn’t the end of this wonderful series!
My Rating: A- Enjoyed A Lot Review copy provided by NetGalley Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Of Silk and Steam is the final book of Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk series, and it brings all parties to one thrilling action – Viva Revolution! From rogue blue bloods, the humanist supporters, the Nighthawks, as well as rebels inside the council, they all work side by side to overthrow the Prince Consort. In amidst of this, we have the captivating enemies-to-lovers romance between Lady Mina Duvall and Leo Barrons.
One thing I admire from Bec McMaster is her ability to develop different couples with their own unique characteristics. We have five different couples and none of them are similar or carbon-copy from the other. In Of Silk and Steam, Mina and Leo are both blue bloods who hold a position inside The Council of Dukes. Leo serves as the Duke of Caine’s proxy, whose health has been declining over the years. While Mina, the only Duchess in the council represents The House of Casavian after her father died.
I have been wanting to read Leo Barrons’ story from the very beginning – ever since I knew that he was actually the half-brother of the Todds (Honoria, Lena, Charlie) by blood. With each book, Leo proves to be a worthy ally towards the rebels. I really loved him and I was getting more curious to read about his love interest… and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting Mina at all!
Mina Duvall, to me, came as a mysterious heroine. Mina has an icy calculating façade, which makes her a tough character to crack. I remembered when she made a decision in book #1, which swayed the vote to save Blade’s life. I kept wondering what would be the significance of her as a character in this book. Will she become a heroine or is she a villain that everyone must be careful of?
I must say that I’m very happy to get this book because I finally got to understand Mina. I could understand why she put those layers to protect herself. Being the only female in the Council makes the others look down on her, especially since Council of Dukes would never allow a female to be considered as blue blood. Mina has a lot against her and her position as Duchess of Casavian, thus she needs to be strong and smart.
Honestly, with each and every revelation about Mina, my admiration to her grows threefold. I mean, for the past ten years, ever since she ascended to the duchy, Mina has been slowly planning to overthrow the Prince Consort: building a network of humanist, playing the court to her advantage. And she does this basically by herself!! In order to help her best friend, the queen. I personally thought Mina triumphs over all male characters in this series; she doesn’t gain her victory by brute physical strength (though she can win a physical fight too) but she also uses her intellectuality – basically, a woman after my own heart.
The romance between Leo and Mina is slow-burn … because Mina doesn’t easily trust Leo after years thinking of him as the son of the Duke who killed her father. While this makes the ‘forbidden’ love affair engaging to read, I admit that sometimes Mina’s tendency to retreat back to her shell frustrated me. Leo definitely is the one who falls for the relationship early on, as he already thinks of Mina as someone worth to pursue as well as losing his heart for. Mina needs more time catch up. Having said that, their courtship from enemies to lovers is filled with great banter, cat-and-mouse games, and some sexy times.
Bec McMaster ends this thrilling series with a blast, and the climax is worth my losing few hours of sleep … I am happy that she has a spin-off in the making, because I’m not exactly ready to say goodbye to this world. Oh, and if she ever decides to make a stand-alone story about Charlie and Lark, well, I’m not going to say “no” to that as well *wink-wink nudge-nudge*.
Well the fifth book in the London Steampunk series is a triumphant return to form . I've really enjoyed these stories set in an alternative Victorian type landscape but the previous instalment didn't quite wow me , liked it but didn't love it. This book sees the author doing what she does best and that's writing about protagonists that make the readers heart beat quicker whilst taking us on one hell of an adventure. Yes we finally get to see Leo and Mina forced to work together as all the previous plot lines are finally coming to ahead . Mina blames Leo's father for the slow poisoning and agonising death of her own father and wants revenge but there's something about Leo that both aggravates and challenges her all at the same time. She has a job to do as the Queens right hand woman but it's starting to look as if she might need Leo as an ally . Can she really trust him? For so long he has been her enemy and yet now the Humanist movement needs to act and do it quickly! Leo has always felt drawn to Mina but maintaining his facade amongst the Echelon has enabled him to aid those who like himself wish to see the end of the tyrannical and insane Prince Consort . When Mina and Leo witness a murder it starts a chain of events that forces them together but Mina cannot betray her Queen . Thrown into a world rife with danger it seems that war is about to be released on the streets of London and slap bang in the middle of it's path are this passionate couple. The words" high octane" and "roller coaster" come to mind when I think what to say about this book as it's very fast paced and truly a thrilling read. Ok now that's probably enough superlatives but this instalment that brings previous characters that I've loved back into the fray is truly a fabulous read. All the intrigue and political machinations that have taken place in previous books culminate here to bring a heart pounding story chock full of action. Fear not though because if you are a fan of romance then this couple are simply divine together. Mina is more than a match for any man but I do wish she had opened up to Leo a tad sooner. That being said the author writes a very passionate and steamy romance ( still fanning myself here!) with entertaining dialogue that swept me away. This has been a phenomenal series with it's unique take on vampires and definitely on my keeper shelf. Take a bow Ms McMaster because you deserve it! I was gifted a copy of this in exchange for an honest review
Ahh, revenge. Lady Aramina is consumed with it and her preferred target is out of reach, blinded by her pain and fury, she goes for the next best thing, his illegitimate son, Leo Barrons. Is this Mina’s chance to take down two birds with one stone or will her heart be swayed by the handsome Leo? Will they somehow join forces against the corrupt political powerhouse that darkens their world? Both have hardened their hearts to romance, but their resistance is faltering in this game of love and war.
Bec McMaster’s Of Silk and Steam is a little different, in a world that embraces the Steampunk Genre. Dare I say she has created a little extra steam with the back and forth tension that rises to volcanic proportions between Mina and Leo? Her world is filled with all the sights and sounds of an alternate history filled with amazing mechanicals, a touch of magic and, oh, the passion! They say keep your allies close and your enemies closer, and trust me, these two enemies have gotten very close. Filled with non-stop action, non-stop romance and non-stop intrigue, Ms. McMaster's attention to detail and style of writing will have you wishing for a time machine to go back and live in her world!
I received this ARC edition from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for my honest review.
Series: London Steampunk - Book 5 Publication Date: March 3, 2015 Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca ISBN-10: 1402291949 ISBN-13: 978-1402291944 Genre: Steampunk | Fantasy Print Length: 448 pages Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
And it has come full circle. All the Echelon business concerning the Prince Consort, and the long standing feud between Lady Aramina and Barron's has finally come to a head.
And. It. Was. Epic!!
Previous couples and characters making cameos, explosive secrets and jaw dropping revelations, devastating betrayals. A new story arc.
Gah! OF SILK AND STEAM is brimming with the good stuff!
A pretty cinematic ending (for now) to the series. This is Leo and Mina's story who are the combative Your Graces from the previous books (she's a duchess in her own right). She's been secretly fighting to free the queen from her tyrannical prince consort and he's been doing the same but from another angle. This was really plot driven and the romance was definitely secondary to everything else. It's a testament to how much I loved the world building that I was here mostly for the resolution to that than the actual romantic arc. While this was the spiciest of all the books in the series, I never felt invested in the romance. Leo has been a problem for me from the beginning when in the first book he basically shunned his helpless sisters who were living in squalor with their sick little brother. I can never respect a hero who doesn't go out of his way to help the damsels in his sphere 🙄 He was redeemed mostly but I still side eyed him something fierce. I liked Mina a lot. She was a fierce revolutionary and not at all what she'd presented herself to be in previous books.
Good ending to the overall arc but I needed more from the romance.
⭐⭐⭐💫/5 🔥🔥🔥/5
Tropes Enemies to Lovers Unrequited love Hero falls first
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Of Silk and Steam is a vividly written, high velocity steampunk adventure.
Lady Aramina (Mina) is out for revenge for the death of her father and since she can’t take down the man responsible she is aiming for his son and heir, Leo Barrons.
Leo Barrons is walking a tight rope between political machination to over throw the corrupt prince consort and keeping himself a playerin the Echelon he wishes to destroy.
Leo is drawn to Mina like no other woman; he understands but can’t accept her disdain. When circumstances don’t follow their plans Leo and Mina find themselves on the run together.
Mina is more than what she seems, for years she has been plotting with the queen to destroy her husband’s rule of tyranny and insanity. She never imagined finding an ally in her enemy. Can they trust each other enough to come together to take down the empire?
Fabulous twist and turns fill this non-stop, action filled adventure. The plot has finally come to a rolling boil and is about to explode…for good or bad the war with the Echelon has come to a head. No faction of the rebels have enough power to take it on by themselves...their only hope is to join forces.
Powerful writing brings life to the characters while McMaster’s imagination continues to thrill and captivate me throughout this series. Of Silk and Steam is a sexy and stunning steampunk novel.
I received this ARC copy of Of Silk and Steam from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication March 3, 2015.
Written by: Bec McMaster Series: London Steampunk Sequence in Series: Book 5 Page Count: 448 pages Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca Publication Date: March 3, 2015 Rating: 4 Stars ISBN-10: 1402291949 ISBN-13: 978-1402291944 Genre: Victorian Steampunk | Scifi | Paranormal Find this book on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble