Review: The Kraken King and the Crumbling WallsThe Kraken King and the Crumbling Walls by Meljean Brook
Series: The Iron Seas #4.6
Published by berkley, InterMix on May 20, 2014
Genres: Romance, Steampunk, Victorian Romance
Format: eBook
Source: Advance Reader Copy, NetGalley
Goodreads
five-stars

The Kraken King, Part VI
The Kraken King and the Crumbling Walls

Reunited, Ariq and Zenobia must journey over the red wall and make a desperate appeal to the one woman with enough power to halt the marauders’ plans—the Empress of Nippon.

But even the Kraken King cannot demand the attentions of an empress. Masked and quarantined, Ariq and Zenobia are forced to bide their time. Despite the fact that they are as physically close as two people can be, Zenobia is trying to keep the man she can’t help but love at a distance, terrified she’ll be hurt again. And all the while, the mysteries of the Living City grow around them…

Ariq and Zenobia are making progress, but it’s slow progress. Ariq’s name will open some doors, but his reputation will close just as many. He needs to not only get an audience with the Empress, but he needs to make her believe him as well. If the first task seems difficult, the other is nearly insurmountable. Ariq will be asking the Empress to believe him over some of her trusted men.
Meanwhile, Zenobia is reunited with Mara, Cooper, and Helene, who all showed her what true friendship is, and I think she needed that. She needed to see that not everyone will bail just because she is difficult and her life has its moments. She’s never really opened herself up to see that before.
And Ariq, oh le swoon, Ariq. I’m picturing him as Shang from Mulan, by the way, Don’t judge 😉
He and Zenobia have a fantastic romance and it’s worth every single page. You guys must read this, even if you’re not a Steampunk fan, I think you’ll like this.

Now since parts VII and VIII aren’t out yet, we all have to wait until I can get my hot little hands on a review copy before I can post any more. But, I highly recommend not just this serial (which looks like it will be out in a full-length omnibus edition later on), but I highly recommend the entire Iron Seas series. I usually reserve this badge for Scottish romances, but I can’t help it, this series is Highland Hussy Approved.

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Edit:

Since writing this, Meljean has hooked me up with part VII, so be prepared for another review!

***ARC courtesy of Berkley Intermix

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five-stars