Zenobia and Ariq continue to campaign for the Empress to withdraw her fleet from Krakentown – but as the delay stretched, Ariq worries what could be happening to Krakentown in the meantime – especially since there’s an ominous silence from his home.

There is little hope when they finally get to speak to anyone in power – because the plot reveals the existence of the Skybreaker, the devastating war machine the conspirators wish to force Ariq to give up; the Empress is not going to allow it to be in threatening hands

Or any hands but her’s.

The Kraken King has now done what I never thought it would do – it has taken an established romance and run over it with that so pervasive romance trope – the convoluted misunderstanding. Zenobia and Ariq both fundamentally misunderstand what the other has said and what the other meant and it shakes a lot of what they thought about the relationship – leaving them both hurt and unhappy.

Perhaps more surprisingly, it actually did this most tiresome of tropes is done in a way that doesn’t make me hate it (even if I don’t love it) since it’s moderately reasonable (though, like every time this trope arises, a simple conversation could address a great deal – but unlike most of the times this trope arises, not all) and the rift doesn’t come from making massive negative assumptions of the other but from reasonable mistakes and personality crashes

Zenobia has trust issues – and reasonably so given her background and history. She also is an extremely practical woman who ensures she is secure and has contingency plans. Ariq has, throughout these books, worked to “breach Zenobia’s defences” and get through her habitual mistrust – and he thought he had, he thought that certain actions she took and certain risks she took (spoiler dodging!) ensured she finally trusted him. And she did, kind of – but she also took precautions and had a Plan B and, basically, still had a “how to escape from Ariq” plan ready. Ariq is not just hurt by this but hurt because it never occurred to him to make a “if Zenobia leaves me” reservation plan.

Then this is compounded by Zenobia’s abandonment issues – again, stemming from her past and the frequency of her being kidnapped/threatened in order to coerce others (her brother or Ariq). Frankly, people have very logical, sensible reasons to abandon Zenobia to her kidnappers rather than give in to their demands/risk a rescue. And she’s a practical woman, she knows this – but still fears it – which all runs aground on Ariq deciding to tell Zenobia what he thinks she wants to hear rather than what he feels; taking her trust issues to mean she wants space he offers to let her go where the abandonment flares

Read More ( )

This is the seventh part in the eight part serial novelization of The Kraken King. I enjoyed this part, but it wasn’t my favorite of the bunch. I am eager to finally get to part eight and see how things wrap-up.

Ariq and Zenobia are worried about what is happening in Krakentown and send Zenobia’s body guards to check it out. Meanwhile Ariq finally gets his audience with the Empress but not in the way he expects.

There is a lot of romance in this book as well as some torture. This was probably the most romancy portion after Part VI and it is definitely the darkest portion of this book.

There isn’t as much action as in the previous parts, mostly there is a lot of intrigue as Ariq and Zenobia work to outsmart the Empress. We also get some surprise appearances from past Iron Seas characters.

Overall I continue to enjoy the elaborate world of The Iron Seas and I also enjoy the characters of Ariq and Zenobia. This part was the darkest of the parts of The Kraken King I have read so far and there was more romance and intrigue and less action. I still enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see how Part VIII wraps everything up.

While I am still not a fan of the book being released as novellas and in the future will wait for the whole novel to be released….I do think that this book is an excellent addition to the Iron Seas series. I definitely recommend this whole series to fans of steampunk and adventure with some romance. ( )

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

Part seven of this rip roaring adventure that grabs the readers attention and then steam rollers through all our preconceived notions of what a steam punk novel should be! There's only one episode left after this and I'm beyond anxious to read it. This part has everything you can possibly imagine in a book and then some. Pick this up and be prepared to lose all track of time until you begrudgingly finish it because once started you won't want to stop reading!

Our intrepid and quite industrious heroine Zenobia has found adventure and love. Ariq known as the Kraken King has married her according to his peoples customs and now together they face yet more danger as Ariq strives to save the people of Western Australia from war with the Nipponese. Ariq knows the location of the ultimate war machine and is determined that no one gets their hands on it but sometimes secrets have a way of being found out!

In this instalment we see our favourite couple struggling against so much insecurities that I just wanted to bang their heads together! O my giddy aunt has there ever been such a pair of insecure people written about before? So many misunderstandings and well quite frankly a basic lack of trust. Zenobia had an incredibly hard time growing up but really should stop running away from the depths of her feelings for Ariq and as for Ariq well I just wish he would see himself as the good deserving man that he is. This couple really need to learn to communicate more and not just in the bedroom! Which incidentally will have you turning on a fan as the author takes the passion into the stratosphere!

Do not be misled though as action and drama dominates this tale and it was so incredibly hard to read at one point that I really thought I along with these wonderful characters could take no more! The level of suffering endured was torturous to read about and I for one sincerely hope that retribution is forthcoming!

This has turned out to be an enthralling read that has completely blindsided me with the intensity of feeling I have for these characters. Fans of the author will be pleased to see the appearance of favourite characters from her other books but for me it's Ariq and Zenobia who hold my attention riveted.

I have no idea what will happen next but there's a few clues left like breadcrumbs for us readers to follow and I'm very hungry! Yes I'm hungry for more! ( )

Meljean Brook, you SUCK!! why do you do that for????!!!! Now Im going to be more miserable now than ever...as if next week doesn't come any faster ( )