Blurb
In Victorian London, if you2527re not a blue blood of the Echelon then you2527re nothing at all. The Great Houses rule the city with an iron fist, imposing their strict ‘blood taxes2527 on the nation, and the Queen is merely a puppet on a string…
Lena Todd makes the perfect spy. Nobody suspects the flirtatious debutante could be a sympathizer for the humanist movement haunting London2527s vicious blue blood elite. Not even the ruthless Will Carver, the one man she can2527t twist around her little finger, and the one man whose kiss she can2527t forget…
Stricken with the loupe and considered little more than a slave-without-a-collar to the blue bloods, Will wants nothing to do with the Echelon or the dangerous beauty who drives him to the very edge of control. But when he finds a coded letter on Lena—a code that matches one he saw on a fire-bombing suspect—he realizes she2527s in trouble. To protect her, he must seduce the truth from her.
With the humanists looking to start a war with the Echelon, Lena and Will must race against time—and an automaton army—to stop the humanist plot before it2527s too late. But as they fight to save a city on the brink of revolution, the greatest danger might just be to their hearts…
Lena Todd makes the perfect spy. Nobody suspects the flirtatious debutante could be a sympathizer for the humanist movement haunting London2527s vicious blue blood elite. Not even the ruthless Will Carver, the one man she can2527t twist around her little finger, and the one man whose kiss she can2527t forget…
Stricken with the loupe and considered little more than a slave-without-a-collar to the blue bloods, Will wants nothing to do with the Echelon or the dangerous beauty who drives him to the very edge of control. But when he finds a coded letter on Lena—a code that matches one he saw on a fire-bombing suspect—he realizes she2527s in trouble. To protect her, he must seduce the truth from her.
With the humanists looking to start a war with the Echelon, Lena and Will must race against time—and an automaton army—to stop the humanist plot before it2527s too late. But as they fight to save a city on the brink of revolution, the greatest danger might just be to their hearts…
Review
In the second book in the London Steampunk series, Lena
Todd has left the rookeries of Whitechapel to carefully maneuver through the
glamorous yet backstabbing world of the Echelon—the London aristocracy of
blood-drinking blue bloods—and she2527s constantly living in fear. She needs to
make an advantageous match as a blood thrall to live a comfortable life in high
society, but she just can2527t go through with it. With her illusions finally
shattered, she starts working for the underground humanist movement that seeks
to elevate the status of humans in the city.
Todd has left the rookeries of Whitechapel to carefully maneuver through the
glamorous yet backstabbing world of the Echelon—the London aristocracy of
blood-drinking blue bloods—and she2527s constantly living in fear. She needs to
make an advantageous match as a blood thrall to live a comfortable life in high
society, but she just can2527t go through with it. With her illusions finally
shattered, she starts working for the underground humanist movement that seeks
to elevate the status of humans in the city.
Will Carver is known and feared as the Beast. He2527s the
only free verwulfen (werewolf) in all of England and Scotland, but there2527s a
price on his head. When he2527s asked by the Council of Dukes to help negotiate a
peace treaty with the verwulfen from the Scandinavian Empire, he agrees if only
the persecution of verwulfen in England would be outlawed. On the same night,
he learns about Lena2527s violent, unwanted suitor. They2527re thrown together by
circumstance. Lena teaches Will how to properly move throughout society, he
protects her from those wishing her harm, and their attraction finally burns
out of control.
only free verwulfen (werewolf) in all of England and Scotland, but there2527s a
price on his head. When he2527s asked by the Council of Dukes to help negotiate a
peace treaty with the verwulfen from the Scandinavian Empire, he agrees if only
the persecution of verwulfen in England would be outlawed. On the same night,
he learns about Lena2527s violent, unwanted suitor. They2527re thrown together by
circumstance. Lena teaches Will how to properly move throughout society, he
protects her from those wishing her harm, and their attraction finally burns
out of control.
I didn2527t like Lena at first. She would flirt and play
games with Will, not realizing how much her teasing actually hurt and upset
him. I found it strange she even returned to the Echelon, knowing how horrible
and cruel most of those people were, and that her life would most likely be in
danger. She also kept a lot of secrets, which landed her in trouble. Once she
finally wised up and trusted Will with her problems, I started to like her much
better.
games with Will, not realizing how much her teasing actually hurt and upset
him. I found it strange she even returned to the Echelon, knowing how horrible
and cruel most of those people were, and that her life would most likely be in
danger. She also kept a lot of secrets, which landed her in trouble. Once she
finally wised up and trusted Will with her problems, I started to like her much
better.
Will is a wonderfully tormented character. Plus, he2527s a
virgin! He hates being a verwulfen, but he also embraces the strength, power,
and reputation that come from it, so he just feels torn up inside.
virgin! He hates being a verwulfen, but he also embraces the strength, power,
and reputation that come from it, so he just feels torn up inside.
Three years have passed since book one. Blade, Honoria,
Leo, and other great secondary characters return, and awesome new characters
are introduced, like Mercury.
Leo, and other great secondary characters return, and awesome new characters
are introduced, like Mercury.
Though I enjoyed the story for the most part, the pacing
was a little slow in the beginning but finally picked up. The descriptions are
detailed and concise, not overblown and lengthy. I2527m looking forward to reading
more books in the series.
was a little slow in the beginning but finally picked up. The descriptions are
detailed and concise, not overblown and lengthy. I2527m looking forward to reading
more books in the series.
3 Stars
Disclaimer – I borrowed this ebook from the library. I am
not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I
will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I
will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.