Zenobia, Ariq and company arrive in the dangerous Smuggler’s dens, looking for someone who can repair Connor’s legs and more news on the Marauders whose attacks risk enflaming the wrath of the Nipponese Empress

Ariq has to navigate the treacherous politics of the town to find the information he needs, while Zenobia is pulled by divided loyalties; and her carefully hidden identity is close to being revealed.

I don’t think I’ll ever get used to “episodic” novels – teeny tiny books each telling a few chapters. Books released as soap episodes or comics; frankly, they leave me frustrated every time I reach the end of them because I want more, I want the story to continue, I want the story to get going and not have these unnecessary breaks that just derail the plot and the development and stops me getting the full epic feel

It’s especially bad when we have a series as good as this one. I love Zenobia, she has such an excellent combination of strength and vulnerability – determination and fear. She constantly lives under threat of kidnap because of her brother’s antics and success but at the same time craves adventure and freedom. She’s practical enough to seek protection but frustrated by the intrusion it involves into her life. She’s sensible, snarky, strong willed and not willing to let even her growing feelings for Ariq, the Kraken King, overwhelm her responsibilities to her people. I like that she’s more torn about leaving Mara and Connor than she is about leaving him behind

The same applies to Ariq, while he is definitely growing to care passionately about Zenobia, she is not – cannot – be his main priority. He’s a leader of a people under threat, he has responsibilities to them. Even beyond that, Australia is facing a major threat and he’s not going to check out of that just because he has fallen in love.

This is so rare in any books with romance – for love to be meaningful there’s a prevailing idea that it must be overwhelming and everything else cease to be a priority. I love this subversion of that – that Ariq and Zenobia can feel lust and love but still say “no, I have responsibilities, I have other priorities, I refuse to drop everything for this.”

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I hate serials.. come on why should I wait another week for this? arghhhhhhhh gimme MORE!!! *rolling rolling* ( )

This is the third installment in the eight installment series called The Kraken King. This Kraken King as a whole is the 4th book in the Iron Sea series. I really enjoyed this continuation of the Kraken King story. This has been an excellent story full of action, adventure, steampunk, and romance.

In this installment Zenobia, Helene, and Ariq journey to the smuggler's den. Zenobia's main goal here is to get transport to the Red City. While she works on that Ariq is trying to track down the raiders that destroyed Zenobia's ship.

I continue to really enjoy Zenobia and Ariq as characters. They are likable, easy to engage with, and just a lot of fun to read about. There is still a lot of tension between Zenobia and Ariq that is well done. Although I felt like the scenes between Zenobia and Ariq were a lot less frequent in this installment, they spent much of the story apart from each other working on their separate missions.

The Smuggler's Den is a really interesting area to read about. There are some very quirky new characters introduced. I enjoyed them all. It’s a very creatively done area; there’s everything from the creepy Twins to a battle area where humans face off with zombies.

There wasn't as much action in this installment. However, there are a lot of politics between the different leaders of Smuggler’s Den. We also learn a lot more about Ariq's background and even hear some about how he got the name The Kraken King.

Although it is kind of killing me to read this in installments (I just don't like how you get jerked out of the story and have to wait a whole week to read the next section). The Kraken King has been a very good addition to the Iron Seas novels. I thought this installment was a bit weaker than the last two, but it was still very good.

Overall a solid installment in The Kraken King book. I have always loved the world of The Iron Seas. Brook is an excellent writer who has created some very engaging characters and a wonderfully imaginative world. This was an excellent combination of adventure, action, steampunk, politics, and romance. I definitely recommend the whole Iron Sea series if you are a fan of steampunk and don’t mind some romance with your steampunk. ( )

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

The third instalment of what is turning out to be a cracking steampunk series. Fans of this author will not be disappointed and it's a fabulous introduction to what is still quite a new genre to many. Filled with incredible world building and often hilarious dialogue this series is an amazing find and one not to be missed!

Ariq is many things ,he is governor of Krackentown, a former soldier and now a man consumed by lust for the perplexing Zenobia Fox! She's survived an airship attack, drowning at sea, death by giant worm and now fights against the incredible attraction for Ariq! Oh he wants her and he's pretty sure that if she were to be brutally honest she would admit the same but Zenobia is not what she pretends to be. She's sending letters written in code and Ariq cannot just stand idly by and allow those he's sworn to protect get hurt .
So the charade continues ...for now! Ariq has agreed to help Zenobia and her friend Helene reach Red City but the danger they all face is catching up. Marauders are attacking and if something isn't done soon the Empress will wipe out all who stand against her. Traveling inland leads Zenobia directly into the path of danger and worse , an old enemy !

So much detail has gone into this book. I am thoroughly riveted by this story and each instalment just ramps up the tension . I've read steampunk stories before so am quite used to the amazing machines and engineering often mentioned but this author has included subjects that astound me , I mean giant worms, zombies? Trust me this series is so original and full of surprises that each page feels like a revelation and it's truly such fun!
Yes there is a romance building but it's part of the story and not just an excuse for the story. I don't know which I'm enjoying the most, the fledgling relationship that's brimming with sexual tension or the incredible world building . No I think I've decided , it's such an amazing ride that I just love it all! ( )