Review for this lovely serial coming soon! :) ( )

Zenobia and Ariq must now move quickly and carefully. It’s not just the Rebellion against the Horde that are manoeuvring to claim the Skybreaker, but the Nipponese Empire as well. Both of them are powers that can wipe out Ariq’s home of Krakentown and all the people who have come to respect and rely on him.

They need to stop this conflict before it even begins – because against such powers even if they win the fight, the cost will be impossibly high to pay

This finally concludes the whole saga of the Kraken King. On the whole I’ve loved it, but I think in future I will wait for all the individual “episodes” to be released on one book – the short story format doesn’t work well for me, though this series has done a very good job of resisting the urge to recap excessively with each instalment and has assumed that we remember the last book and didn’t need it regurgitating all over again.

The writing is also excellent. We’ve got the perfect pacing without either the rush which leaves emotions flat and the world unexplained, or the vast rambly lines of someone who loves their angst monologues or who is desperate to give me a lecture on their world and how much they love it. We have humour, we have action, we have plotting and thinking and rich worlds and snark and good emotion – we have it all and I love it, yes yes I do. And as an ending book in a mini-series this is the ending and it ends it well – it’s satisfying, it’s triumphant, it leaves you feeling vindicated and victorious and doesn’t leave any ends left loose – while still leaving everything in place in case the author wants to come back.

The writing has always made me like this series. But what has made me love this series throughout are the characters

Perhaps my greatest love has been how practical they are. I read a lot of books and watch a lot of shows where people lose their ever loving minds on a regular basis. They constantly do things that make little sense – or which require them to act in a grossly excessive, self-absorbed or emotionally extreme manner. Zenobia and Ariq are not those people. They are sensible – when they’re hurt or upset or angry, they feel it, they feel it deeply – but they also factor in common sense. They don’t leap off without thinking (or are at least aware when they do), they maintain perspective and they maintain their priorities. Zenobia in always keeping herself safe and not letting love overwhelm caution and Ariq by always remembering his people who rely on him and he has a duty to. Zenobia is no coward but fully recognises what she can and cannot do and when her presence adds nothing. Ariq is protective but fully recognises that this can be stifling and smothering. He’s huge and dangerous and capable of massive violence both personally and with the weapons at his command – and he doesn’t use them because he recognises the long term consequences.

This has been maintained throughout the books and really shines through in the ending. An ending where angry lashing out would work – where rage and vengeance would not only be acceptable but something I would cheer… and they don’t. They’re sensible, they’re restrained, they recognise what is good in the long run for themselves but mainly for the people who they owe respect to. They’re actually worthy of being leaders not because they’re super strong or pretty or have special woo-woo, but because they take that duty seriously. They’re certainly better people than me.

In turn this also worked really well with the romance, it was passionate, it was stormy, they had falling outs and difficulties and rifts but all were very natural to their characters, all came with understandable, sensible even while emotional responses and none of them felt ridiculous. I felt for them, I didn’t get frustrated by them. Perhaps this is as much because neither of them stopped becoming people in order to become love interests which I think a lot of romance I’ve read has had a problem with: the romance hits and their world disappears – except for the romance and things that affect that romance. Ariq and Zenobia end this book in love, their marriage affirmed and all the stronger for the respect they have built for each other rather than the ZING INSTA LOVE STRIKES!

Read More ( )

This is the fourth book in the Iron Seas series that was released in eight part installments, this is the eighth and final installment in this series.

Zenobia and Ariq arrive in Krakentown with their enemy hot on their heels. They must take whatever help they can get to defend Krakentown, even if it means they must put the horribly destructive machine of Ariq’s to use.

This was a well done conclusion to this book. The Kraken King joins forces with Archimedes Fox and the Lady Corsair and rushes back to Krakentown to defend his people. The final battle commences between those who would steal the giant war machine from Ariq and those who would defend Krakentown.

The whole novella was all very well done. There is a lot of intrigue and fighting. I really enjoyed getting to finally see the giant war machine. There really aren’t any steamy scenes between Zenobia and Ariq, which was a bit disappointing. However the reason for this was even more disappointing and odd...apparently Zenobia was on her period. Uh...okay. There is still a lot of touching romance between the two.

Both Zenobia and Ariq have grown and changed a lot throughout the book. I enjoyed them both a lot as characters. They are both caring and determined individuals and they are stronger when they are together than when they are apart.

I enjoyed how things wrapped up and thought the final solution was very creative. The giant war machine really added a wonderful steampunk feel to this book as well, I just loved it.

Overall a very well done conclusion to this The Kraken King series of novellas. This was also a well done continuation of The Iron Seas series. While I really enjoyed the The Kraken King overall, I was not a fan of the installment format. If Brook releases the next Iron Seas novel in installments I will definitely wait until the full book release to read it. This whole series is highly recommend to those who love steampunk adventure and don’t mind some romance in it as well. ( )

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
allthingsuf.com

Joint review of Parts 7 & 8.

With these last two installments of THE KRAKEN KING serial, Ariq and Zenobia face their greatest challenges and darkest moments. While adventure through exotic lands has permeated all installments of this story, here at the end readers must confront the titanic forces arrayed against our hero and heroine. Both their relationship and their bodies will be tested, loved ones placed in danger, and any hope of a happy future put in question.

Part 7 in particular contains the “darkest before the dawn” portion of the story, making it a more difficult read regardless of personal preference. My lower appreciate, however, was due to our hero and heroine having a little more interpersonal drama and misunderstandings than I would have liked. Nothing unbelievable for their established characters, and Brook resolves the personal side of things pretty quickly, but I have enough of an aversion to “big misunderstanding” tropes that I wanted to skip some of Ariq’s and Zenobia’s scenes. Luckily, the adventure and physical danger dominates far more of Part 7 than the that one romance trope. By the end of Part 7, there were several people who I really wanted to see torn to pieces for their actions. Part 8 certainly delivers. While political realities dictate that some get off relatively scott free, others received satisfying, fist-pumping-the-air comeuppances. Ariq’s politics and maneuvering are in full effect, managing the herculean task of carving out a happily-ever-after despite geopolitical hostility.

With these last two installments in the serial button up much of the adventure side of things, the end result is a satisfying, believable ending for a couple that deserves nothing less. Taken as a whole, THE KRAKEN KING will be an impressive and cohesive addition to the Iron Seas series. Read individually, these parts have made us apart of something special.

Sexual Content: Sex scenes. ( )

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Vivacious Valkyrie - Marta:
*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

The last instalment of Zenobia's journey and finally we get to read about the incredible war machine known as the Skybreaker. Ariq has sworn to protect it and not allow it to be used but the Nippon Empire are hell bent on claiming it. Having narrowly escaped from capture Ariq is still healing but with the help and support of family and friends maybe they can find a way to finally defeat their enemies . Ghazan Bator holds all of Kraken town hostage with the Empires fleet circling their waters but with a stout heart and a daring plan where there's life there's hope! One thing is certain Ariq will do all within his power to protect that which he cares about and there's no doubt that Zenobia is top of his list.

These two characters have truly embarked on a grand adventure that has had so many heart stopping moments that it could only be considered a five star read! First of all this is a romance but it's a passionate combustible relationship that just sucked this reader right in. I want Ariq! He's everything you imagine a hero to be and yet he's not perfect and constantly wants to do the right thing but o my I could shake that man! He's so busy trying to give Zenobia the freedom she craves that he forgets what she needs most is his love. Zenobia hasn't had a good start in life and is desperate to keep her financial independence but mercenary fortune hunters and numerous kidnap attempts have made her wary of men. The most important thing in a relationship is trust but in order for that to happen full disclosure is often needed and Zenobia has learned this the hard way. To say she has blossomed under Ariqs attentions is to detract from her natural spunk but she has become a much softer heroine whilst never losing the wit and strength that has made her such a likeable character.

This author has truly got a wonderful imagination and happily the talent to go with it. I've had an amazing time reading these ebooks and heartily recommend this series which for me is a keeper. I'd love her to pen more about these characters but anything in this fabulous world that Ms Brook has created would go on my wish list as it's been such an emotional journey. Sometimes there are not enough superlatives to use to express how good a book and it's world building is and that would be the case here. I absolutely loved everything about this story even if at one point events took my breath away and I'd sincerely like to thank the author for such an amazing story. ( )