Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it’s the last safe haven. But at what price?

Title:  Kiss of Steel
Author:  Bec McMaster
Series:  London Steampunk #1
Publish Date:  September 1, 2012
Source: purchased by reviewer

Publisher’s Description: When Nowhere Is Safe

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it’s the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It’s been said he faced down the Echelon’s army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood-craving he’s been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She’s so…innocent. He doesn’t see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he’s been seeking.

 

Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …sometime there are SPOILERS. *BEWARE*

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Nervous Nellie says…

“Are you decent?”

“Rarely,” he said, with an ironic drawl.

“Are you clothed?”

“Aye.”

Right off I have to tell you  that I LOVED this book.  The story starts out in a steampunk world of 1870’s London, England.  The aristocracy are all “creatures” called Blue Bloods.  They have been infected (on purpose) with a craving virus similar to vampirism except it’s not quite the same.  The vampirism doesn’t take hold until after a blue blood (called so because their blood is a purplish/blue kind of color) goes through the “Fade”.  The Fade is called so because a blue blood’s virus count tops out and the higher it gets the less color the person has.  Meaning that everything about them turns albino in coloring and then they loose their mind and become a raging, killing machine that is nearly invincible.  It’s like Vampires but a different spin!

So, there is swearing, some romantic scenes and some sex scenes.  There is a lot of blood and gore at times but a lot more mystery and intrigue.  Honoria’s father was a scientist trying to find a cure for “The Fade” – not necessarily the craving virus because the aristocracy or The Echelon WANTS that.  The virus keeps them young, strong and hardy for as long as the virus count stays low enough.  All males born into aristocracy gets a chance at the craving virus.  At 15, all boys get infected as a rite of passage.  Some that are low born are accidentally infected.  Those are made into the “secret service/F.B.I.” of the aristocracy called the Nighthawks.  The best of the best of the Nighthawks are moved into the Coldrush Guards.  Those low born or those that are accidentally infected that eschew the Nighthawks are rogues and will be killed immediately unless…they can get away.  Blade is a rogue.

I loved these characters.  They are so dimensional and clear that they could step right out of the book.  I loved this book so much, that I continued and read book 1.1 and book 1.5 immediately.  I’m now starting on book 2.  This series sucked me in quickly and I cannot put it down!!

 

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