Kraken King

[Sorry this is a few days late – we went to see my parents, who live in a complete dead zone with no internet and no cell service, so my apologies.] We’ve made it to book 4 in the Iron Seas series: The Kraken King! Woohoo! We have relished the first two, survived the third, and now can rejoice in the fourth.

You can find official book blurbs for The Kraken King on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

book cover for Kraken King by Meljean Brook

This book includes Zenobia Fox, Archimedes’ sister, who we’ve met in prior books. She’s built a successful career writing the adventurous (and oft-embellished) exploits of her brother. Unforutnately, being successful has made her the victim of several kidnapping attempts. So she decides to do something relatively mundane: accompany her friend on a journey to Australia. She does take precautions and brings her bodyguards (pretending they are her assistants), but it doesn’t matter. Her ship is taken over by marauders.

We are introduced to Ariq. His past is dark, but he has become a respected leader of a quiet colony on the Australian coast. He inadvertently rescues Zenobia from the attack on her airship, but his primary focus was destroying the marauders from intruding on his peaceful little village. He quickly realizes there is more to her than meets his eye: she does not bat an eye at falling through air, riding a flying motorcycle-type-device, or shooting at her attackers.

But just as determined as she is to protect her identity and brother, he is determined to protect his village. As in the other books, there is a third-party who wants to – literally – rule the world. Ariq can stop him, but he will need help. The book has plenty of secrets, plenty of deception, and enough funny moments to lighten the load.

I loved this book. It was full of adventure, and the characters were completely believable. Zenobia is independent and un-trusting and determined to do things her way. Ariq has an image to protect and wants most to protect his people. There is a language barrier, a hardheadedness to both characters that make their story all the more fulfilling, and the whole thing is full of action. And we see lots of new steampunk inventions in a brand new setting, which makes the story all the more interesting.

Because some of the characters and background is introduced in the first two books, I’d recommend you read those first. It isn’t necessary since each book could stand on its own; I just think it might be helpful. When The Kraken King came out, it was one section at a time – it was seven novellas, I think. This complete book is slightly longer, and sometimes feels a bit slower, than the first three books, but that’s because each novella laid a little bit of groundwork before moving forward.

Go get it, read it, and enjoy it. You’re welcome.

Image result for you're welcome meme

Overall: 9/10

P.S. – Meljean Brook is releasing The Iron Seas #5 at some point in 2017 – focus on the Blacksmith (you’ll know who that is if you’ve read the other books). She says this will also be a serial release, as The Kraken King was originally done, so it might take a while for it all to come out. I’ll have to decide if I read each piece as it comes, or if I wait to get the compilation. Decisions, decisions . . . .

 

 

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