Kiss of Steel [Mass Market Paperback]

Oh, I really enjoyed this. It's definitely Steampunk with its steam cabs, bio-mechanic limbs, clockwork toys and Metaljacket soldiers. But it's also a Paranormal-Historical Romance filled with blood-drinkers, vampires and werewolves. In fact, the paranormal aspect I felt was actually stronger than the Steampunk stuff for the most part, which was mostly just used for world-building and padding in the background.

It's also set in a kind of alternate history dystopian society. Oh heck, I don't know what genre it is, but it's a delicious mix of sexy Steampunk and Paranormal awesomeness. And I think I'd quite like to marry that cover too. Although, having read the book, I have to tell you that Honoria would never flash her garters in public like that. In private, well, that's another matter, and it all depends who's asking....

Honoria, of course, is our leading lady. She has an interesting tale to tell regarding how she's ended up the soul provider for her two younger siblings, the youngest of whom, Charlie, is very ill. She's having to live on the outskirts of The Rookery, which is the worst and most dangerous part of London, because it's all she can afford. A strategic position that she hopes will keep her well under the radar of the man who owns everything and everyone in The Rookery; the Devil of Whitechapel himself, Blade.

Why on earth would anyone want to avoid Blade? He's so yummy! He absolutely stole the show for me. Honoria was great as heroines go, but Blade. Ah, Blade. He was simply delicious; just the right amount of arrogance and vulnerability. Not impossibly beautiful, definitely a bit rough around the edges, but he won my heart with his willingness to give his to Honoria, whether she wanted it or not.

I thought McMaster got the balance just right in all areas of the book. Blade was aggressively male but not a dominant a-hole. Honoria was feisty but not bitchy. (She makes up for any excessive snappiness through her sacrifices for her brother and sister. And hey, if I was starving myself to leave more food for my family, I'd be in a bad mood too, let me tell you). The action scenes were bloody but not overly gruesome. And the inevitable Happily Ever After was sweet but not too saccharine.

Oh, and the sex scenes were extremely well done as well I thought! Sexy, but with an emotional connection to go with them.

My only complaint (because there has to be one, right?) was the way Blade's Cockney dialogue was written. Writing someone's accent can be a tricky venture and I felt like some of the dropped letters were incorrectly placed, forcing me to stumble through his dialogue sections, which just bugged me. But I have say this, and it's only a teeny tiny peeve really, was the only reason it didn't get 5 stars.

I'm very interested in several of the secondary characters that were introduced, including Honoria's sister Lena, and Blade's second in command Will the Verwulfen, as well as several others. I hope to see them starring in their own books very soon. I'll definitely be checking out the next instalment which is called Heart of Iron, when it hits the shelves in May 2013.

Recommended to fans of Meljean Brook's Iron Seas series, and Kristen Callihan's Darkest London series.

41/2 Stars ★★★★1/2
ARC provided for an honest review.

5 STARS *****

This story is set in London late ninetieth century where the people in power, the Echelon are blue bloods (humans infected with a virus who need to drink blood. The setting is the dark and fog filled London you associate with the era. Crime is rife and the streets are unsafe.

Honoria is struggling to make ends meet. She has a younger brother and sister relying on her for everything and is barely surviving month by month. That is when Blade, the kingpin of the rookeries request a meeting with her to seek payment in return for protection against the many dangers of the slums.

Honoria is stubborn, augmentative and proud, before coming to the rookery she moved in the high class society of the blue bloods however after her father's death she had to flee, changing her identity. Not only is she suffering financially, but she has a high born blue blood determined to have her and her brother is suffering from an illness which will eventually kill him.

Her association with Blade is unavoidable he has a ruthless reputation and demands payment from everyone who lives in his territory after negotiating she strikes a bargain with him, she will teach him how to speak correctly in return for his protection.

"And what would I do with fancy talk?" He deliberately placed harsh accent on the words. A sneer curled his lip. "Join the Ech'lon?"
"Whatever you wished to do with it. It's the only thing I have that I can give you."
His gaze made a slow perusal of her figure.
"Will give you," she corrected, a flare of heat burning in her cheeks.

Their relationship is slow burning, there is attraction on both sides however Honoria fights it. There is passion as Blade struggles to maintain his control around Honoria, however once she accepts him she doesn't shy away from this side of him instead she embraces it, helping him to accept himself. Blade also knocks down Honoria carefully built walls by making her feel safe and wanted.

Another kiss. Against his throat. Her tongue sliding over the hollow of his collarbone. "I've been so tired and scared for so long. It's nice to feel safe." Her hands slid down his body. "To laugh. To tease you. When I'm with you, I don't think of anything else. I don't think I've felt this happy since before my father died."

Blade is a great hero, he is sweet, caring and fiercely protective of those he calls his family. He is also tortured by his very being, he is infected by the same virus as the blue bloods and must drink blood to survive, an incident in his past leads itself to a deep self hatred. He initially wants Honoria for a blood thrall but he soon begins imagining things he never thought possible for a man like himself such as love and marriage.

"It's one of the things I love about you," he said, burrowing his face in her hair. "You're proud and stubborn, but you're so fierce when it comes to your family." Looking up, he met her startled gaze. "Let down your guard, Honor. Let me in. Let me love you." He kissed her lips, tasted the sweetness of her breath. "Trust me. I won't ever 'urt you."

I loved this book for many reasons, the writing was great with even my poor imagination able to create the scenes in my mind as they are described. I loved the language "You're 'bout three seconds away from bein' bent over that vanity and pumped."

The romance between Honoria and Blade was truly believable and had me routing for a HEA against the odds. There are great secondary characters whose stories will be told in later editions of the series. I am particularly looking forward to Will and Lena's book which is released in a few days.

I loved this book, Victorian London in another dimension so to speak. I am new to Steampunk but will certainly read more. I read it in two sessions, the need for sleep only stopped me reading it in one as my eyes had ceased to focus.