Book Review: Tethered

Tethered

By:  Meljean Brook

Publisher:  Penguin

Publish Date:  July 3, 2012

Format:  eARC of novella ~ Novella included in back of 2nd book, Heart of Steel

Genre:  Steampunk, Romance

Series:  2.5 in The Iron Seas series; Book 1.5 ~ Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City

Recommendation:  Oh yes!! That high seas adventure in the sky, with a dash of love to soften the heart.

Book Synopsis:
When a request for help from an old friend threatens everything that Archimedes Fox holds dear, Yasmeen must risk losing her new airship to a scourge of the Iron Seas...or risk losing the man she loves.

First Sentence:
Chat with them a bit?  Grinning, Archimedes folded Zenobia's note.

Purchase At:

Amazon ~ Heart of Steel / Barnes & Nobles

My Thoughts and Summary:
Through letters between a sister and a brother, Zenobia and Archimedes, we learn of events happening and the touch of the past revisiting.  That Zenobia writes adventure stories of the great female captain...who might be the wife of Archimedes.  Yasmeen receives an invitation to Scarsdale's wedding.  Archimedes' old partner, one of a deep past, is trying to find him and setup a meeting saying he thinks Archimedes can help him.  Some are worried he is looking for payment for damages he might try to claim, but really he wants another persons help, and he will use Archimedes to get it.  Yasmeen and Archimedes are about to take a dangerous trip they had not intended, with her new mercenary ship.  To find a floating city, or not?

We follow through with Yasmeen and Archimedes.  This has a few ties to the world of England as we still have the affects of the Horde and the nanoagents.  But here I feel we learn more about the nanoagent that pulses through many bodies, as it is important to understand to know what is going on.  I REALLY liked learning about the nanoagents here.  It seemed to fit so easily into the storyline and gave me a great view of the inside works as to why.

I feel we are starting fresh with Yasmeen as this crew and ship are new to her as well.  Yasmeen is starting to see how the adventure stories of Lady Lynx written by her sister-in-law, based on her and Archimedes tales, are going to affect her.  Yasmeen is the tough captain any and all think she is, but surprisingly there is one man who has stolen her heart.  Her husband Archimedes.  Yasmeen and Archimedes like adventure, and even a dash of danger to feel alive.  We get to hear of tidbits of past excursions and get a view of their cunning wit along with sharp minds in this short tale.  We take to the high seas, in the sky with boilers and steam.

These letters are our start, and leave me curious as to those mentioned and writing, along with the happenings mentioned in them.

Meljean writes powerful couples, full of desire and want that's more than sex but for companionship and full of complete and utter love for each other.  Yes, there is sex here, but it wasn't out of place.  It fit with the characters.

And another novella of the Iron Seas series, which I read out of turn.  And if I can do it and love the story, so can you.  This is 2.5 in the series.  This is a complete story, from start to finish full of adventure and love.

Needless to say, I've found a series that has all the elements I enjoy; mystery, adventure, action, steampunk, quick wit and flirting, all with a touch of romance as well.  I'll be reading these books!


I read this novella for the author to see if it could stand on it's own without reading the books.

Book Review: Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City

Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City

By:  Meljean Brook

Publisher:  Penguin

Publish Date:  August 7, 2012

Format:  eARC

Genre:  Steampunk, Romance

Series:  1.5 in Iron Seas Series

Recommendation:  Yes, so many elements wrapped in this little package; love, steampunk, and mystery.  All rolled into one!  And you can so read this without reading the first book!  Complete story here.

Book Synopsis:
Eight months after The Iron Duke, can their marriage survive a new danger?

When newly-married Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth is called to investigate a bounder's murder, she doesn't expect the mysterious machine she finds...or the danger that leads back to her husband.

First Sentence:
Even after eight months of marriage, Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth couldn't decide whether it was better to let her husband know that she'd been hurt on the job as soon as she returned home, or to wait until the readied for bed, where he'd see the evidence of her injuries for himself.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Rhys is finishing up preparations for a ball next week.  Detective Inspector Mina looks forward to an evening with her husband of eight glorious months, although not telling him about the shiny bruise she got at work as he worries.  When suddenly she gets called away due to a murder of an associate who wants to reward factories for not completely converting to machines.  Things run deeper than expected with this investigation and mystery. Mina learns new things of her new husband, and one thing she may not care much for...

A whole mystery is of its own and Mina and her husband learn a little more about themselves and family, growing a little more in the idea of together. There is difficulty with the journalists based on her personal relationships and her investigations, which makes the case a little tricky too.

I enjoy meeting the characters.  Anne - the young girl Mina seems to have "adopted", Scarsdale - Rhy's friend and business partner.  Then there's Mina and Rhys.  Wow, what a couple!

We get a quick glimpse as to how Mina and Rhys met.  We get a strong sense of how much Rhys loves and worries for Mina.  And how much Mina loves her husband.

I get the feel there is a long history here.  One with the Horde and nanoagents, the use of mechanical augmentation in bodies as well.  We see different body parts of iron and mechanical, partly the steampunk, that are useful to the people to make a living.  There are hints to Rhys past and sounds of great excitement.  We learn of his involvement against the Horde.  I will say all the details of happenings make me curious to read it all collectively and slowly in its time as it unravels.

We get views of the story from Mina and Rhys.  Both are so in love yet unsure if it'll last, sounds like quickly fell in love and married and maddeningly in love with each other still.

As this novella does come after the first novel, Iron Duke, in the Iron Seas series, it can be read on it's own.  The ground work for the world is here and you will get through.  The first chapter is heavy with world and character layout.  The story is a complete story in itself to enjoy.  The second chapter dives right into the murder mystery.  I read it before the first novel, understood and enjoyed it being new to the world and characters.  You can too!


I read this novella for the author to see if it could stand on it's own without reading books.