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Tarnished Knight by Bec McMaster
In the steam-fuelled world of Victorian London, vampires, werewolves and slasher gangs stalk the night and a man made partly of metal is about to discover just how far he’ll go to protect the woman he loves…
Title: Tarnished Knight
Author: Bec McMaster
Series: London Steampunk #1.5
Publish Date: April 5, 2013
Source: free only to those signed up for author’s newsletter
Publisher’s Description: In the steam-fuelled world of Victorian London, vampires, werewolves and slasher gangs stalk the night and a man made partly of metal is about to discover just how far he’ll go to protect the woman he loves…
After a vicious vampire attack left him struggling to leash the dark urges of the craving virus, John “Rip” Doolan thinks he’s finally starting to master the darkness within. The only thing that threatens to shatter his hard-won control is Esme, his closest friend and the only woman he’s ever wanted. If the stubborn beauty ever realized precisely what was going through his mind, their friendship would be ruined.
For six months, Esme has waited for Rip to recover and take her as his thrall, not daring to hope for more. Too afraid to put her heart on the line, she is devastated when Rip reveals that he never had any intentions of making her his.
But when a savage gang of Slashers start causing havoc in Whitechapel, Rip and Esme have no choice. They must face up to the depth of the passion that burns between them and forge a new relationship…or risk losing each other forever.
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …sometime there are SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
Indeed, the dark should fear him.
This is a typical case of a man being blind as a bat. John was turned blue blood by Blade to save his life. John and Esme were very good friends but Esme wanted more. John wanted more too, but he didn’t think Esme did even though she practically hammered the idea on his head. Esme tried every way she could think of to tell him – directly, indirectly, actions, words, no actions, no words and nothing seemed to break through John’s thick head.
It finally took “meddlin'” as Blade called it to clear the air. Blade and his wife, Honoria, are making a home for their “family”. Some are blood, some are not but they are all family. Blade can’t stand not seeing Esme happy and even 
though he was supposed to leave things alone, he HAD to play matchmaker – which tickled him pink.
This is a fun book (except for when the bad guys steal people to drain them and want to take over Whitechapel) and it ends with a good ending. There is some sex, some foul language but John and Esme get their own story which was *sigh* so nice.
Other reviews in this series:
- Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster
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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*
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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Series Spotlight: The Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Garriger
Happy Book Day (otherwise known as Tuesday)! Since Gail Carriger’s book, Prudence, is released today, I thought I’d do a series spotlight on Prudence’s predecessor, the Parasol Protectorate.
- The Curious Case of the Werewolf that Wasn’t, Book 0.5
- Soulless, Book 1
- Blameless, Book 2
- Changeless, Book 3
- Heartless, Book 4
- Timeless, Book 5
The Parasol Protectorate is a mystery, adventure, romance, comedy-of-manners series set in a Victorian steampunk world where all sorts of supernaturals reside in the open along with the Daylight folk — werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and even dastardly mad scientists.
Alexia Tarabotti is one of the very few Soulless in the world — a person who possesses no soul of her own and can negate the supernatural in others. One touch from Alexia, and vampires lose their fangs, werewolves lose their fur, and ghosts disappear forever.
As you may imagine, this makes Alexia both feared and loved by the supernatural community. Either they want her under their control, or they want her dead, and they find all kinds of creative ways to accomplish their goals.
Alexia is joined on her adventures by a cast of wonderful characters, including Lord Macon, a Scottish Alpha werewolf who is both annoyed and intrigued by Alexia; his proper English Beta, professor Lyle; Alexia’s good friend, Miss Ivy Hisslepenny, who has an unfortunate taste in hats; Madam Lefoux, an eccentric French inventor who dresses as a man; and Lord Akeldama, the most stylish and informed vampire in all of Britain. Oh, la, darling!
The real beauty of this series, from my perspective, is the combination of Ms. Carriger’s beautiful Victorian writing and the narration of Emily Gray on the audiobook version. Emily Gray does an amazing job of bringing all the characters, and the world as a whole, to life. While I might have dismissed these book as too “fluffy” to read, they are an utter delight in audio.
And had I dismissed them as “fluff,” it would have been my great mistake. While there is plenty of outrageous ridiculousness in these books, there is also an incredibly detailed world, a very intricate mystery, edge-of-your-seat action, and a story that builds through all five books. This is good writing and storytelling, not just comedic “fluff.”
The writing world agrees. In addition to being a New York Times bestseller, Alexia’s adventures have won numerous awards for the fresh and funny writing, have been translated into 17 languages, have spawned a series of graphic novels, and have been optioned for television (see author’s website for details).
Ms. Carriger’s Finishing School series for young adults takes place in the same world as, but prior to the events of, the Parasol Protectorate, and the Custard Protocol series, takes place after. And yes, there is some character cross-over. While I’ve neither read nor listened to the Finishing School books, a sample of Moira Quirk’s reading promises all the character Gray brings to the narration, and Ms. Quirk will be narrating Prudence as well.
If you like audiobooks, steampunk, comedy, supernaturals, romance, dirigibles, and treacle tart, you really must experience the Parasol Protectorate. As Lord Akeldama might say, “It is simply the thing, my little cream puff. La!”
One Book Two 