Audiobook Review: Of Silk and Steam by Bec McMaster, Narrated by Alison Larkin

I heard so many great reviews about “Of Silk and Steam” by Bec MacMaster that I wanted to find out for myself how her stories were. Although this is the fifth book in this steampunk series and I had not read or heard any of the previous stories in the series, I really enjoyed it. McMaster had me hooked from the first line and even though it is a lengthy story I was never bored. I always wanted to know what would happen next and how the story would unfold.

The story had me hooked by the heroine- Lady Armina or Mina as she is known- being a kickass. She is a complete alpha woman! I was so impressed with her that she completely made me enjoy this story. Her rival is Leo Barrons. They have had a very antagonistic relationship for years. They were on opposite sides and Mina swore to kill Leo out of vengeance. Leo is a perfect match for Mina. He loves making her angry and endearingly calls her “Duchess” to make her angry at him. Aside from the sexual tension between them, Leo and Mina are on opposites sides of the Ivory Tower in London. There is a big secret that Leo has been carrying for years and inadvertently Mina exposes his big secret.

Mina is the right hand woman of the Queen. Although there are blue bloods and other such creatures that are half human and half machine, the Queen is entirely human. She sits on the thrown of the tower with the awful prince consort. As the prince consort tries to fend off rebellions in his kingdom Mina and Leo have to figure out if they can trust each other enough to over thrown him.

Aside from the tension between Mina and Leo is the tension of the rookeries and the rebels in Echelon. I have to confess that there were parts I was lost and the author named characters from the previous books. I would highly recommend hearing or reading the previous books in the series since the plots are a lead up to what finally happens in “Of Silk and Steam.” Nonetheless I was glued and riveted by the story.

A huge part of this enjoyable factor for me was Alison Larkin. I’ve reviewed books by her before and she is a great narrator. She knows when to draw a reader in with her character impersonations and when to step back and take the place of a narrator. I really enjoyed and recommend this audiobook and plan to read or hear the previous ones in the series.

**Audiobook Provided by Publisher**

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Review: Of Silk and Steam by Bec McMaster

If you have followed the London Steampunk series to this point, you already know what an awesome series this is. (If you have not read the rest of the series, I highly recommend you do so before embarking on book #5 of this series. It will be more enjoyable to read them in order.)

Of Silk and Steam is the high drama, dark, atmospheric, action-packed, and very sexy conclusion to the London Steampunk series. I have loved every book in the ongoing story of the struggle between London's human classes and the aristocratic blueblood class. I actually pre-ordered the finale so it would appear on my e-reader as soon as it was released in March. However, reluctant to see it end, I left the book on my e-reader, unopened until recently.

In Of Silk and Steam, there are many characters since it brings back the best of the series right along with the stars of this book. I'll start with the main characters, Leo Barrons and Aramina Duvall (Mina). The story revolves around these two bluebloods.

Barrons has been in the entire series. At first I viewed him as a bit of a milquetoast character. He was there, important to the plot, but, in the end, everyone else did the heavy lifting. Through the series, his role has grown in size. His character has grown as well. In Of Silk and Steam, the history that shaped the man is revealed. No spoilers, here, but now I really like Barrons and the story that needed to be told is right there in Of Silk and Stream.

Aramina Duvall, Countess of Casavian, is just a little bit scary. Scary in a good way. Mina is super tough and takes no crap. And she is smart. I like how she reads a book to learn how to pilot an airship. Of course, there is no guarantee that book smart is the same as airship smart. Barrons' father was responsible for the death of Mina's father and she would like nothing more than to exact revenge.

The sexual tension between Barrons and Mina is present from the prologue up to consummation. It is intense and it is hot! Barrons knows he wants Mina. But Mina not only despises Barrons for who he is, but she is also sure she does not want any man. These are just the attitudes of a hero and heroine you need to create some great dialog and steamy almost-sex scenes. Mmmm! Barrons and Mina are a very steamy couple.

Aside from Barrons and Mina, there are several interesting characters in Of Silk and Steam, including the Duke of Caine – Barrons' father, Queen Alexandra, and the prince consort. The prince consort has been the ultimate antagonist throughout the series. Powerful, power-hungry, egotistical, controlling and devious. Chapter two starts out ominously with the words “Is the prince consort mad?” I do so like really evil character.

Of course the main characters from the rest of the series show up in Of Silk and Steam. Blade and Honoria, Esme and Rip, Lena and Will, Lynch and Rosalind, Garrett and Perry and the Nighthawks. When the time comes to confront the maniacal prince consort, it will take the combined efforts of everyone if the people of London stand a chance.

One of the things I like about this series, is that Ms. McMaster has come up with the best steampunk machines. I've loved the metaljackets since book one. Well, not loved, because they are truly heinous automatons, but they are so deliciously, coldly evil, they deserved my appreciation. Now there are the Cyclops. Who would not want to own a Cyclops. Strong, flexible, and large. If I had my own cyclops, nothing and no one could stand in my way. Well, they could, but it would be a really bad idea! Plus, I would be really tall when I wore my Cyclops suit.

The endless struggle of London's human and mech classes against the blueblood aristocracy has been fascinating for 5 novels and 2 novellas. Renegade bluebloods like the Devil of White Chapel and Nighthawks, werewolves and vampires give the series its paranormal flavor, while the fascinating machines like metaljackets bring in the steampunk element. All in all, London Steampunk has been a series I have thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to seeing what Bec McMaster comes up with next!

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Feature and Giveaway: Of Silk and Steam by Bec McMaster

ENEMIES. ALLIES. LOVERS.

When her beloved father was assassinated, Lady Aramina swore revenge. The man responsible is well beyond her grasp, but his dangerously seductive heir, Leo Barrons, is fair game. When Mina obtains evidence proving that Leo is illegitimate, she has the means to destroy both the killer and his son, a man who troubles her heart and tempts her body.

A woman of mystery, Mina’s long driven Leo crazy with glimpses of a fiery passion that lurks beneath her icy veneer. He knows she’s hiding something, and he’s determined to unravel her layer by silken layer. He just doesn’t expect the beautiful liar to be the key to overthrowing the corrupt prince consort…or to saving his own carefully walled-off heart.

Bec McMaster lives in a small town in Victoria, Australia and grew up with her nose in a book. A member of RWA, RWA (Australia) and RWNZ, she writes sexy, dark paranormals and steampunk romance. When not writing, reading, or poring over travel brochures, she loves spending time with her very own hero or daydreaming about new worlds.

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Interview with Author Bec McMaster and Giveaway

Meet Bec McMaster, author of Forged by Desire.

Award-winning author Bec McMaster lives in a small town in Australia and grew up with her nose in a book. A member of RWA, she writes sexy, dark paranormals and steampunk romance. When not writing, reading, or poring over travel brochures, she loves spending time with her very own hero or daydreaming about new worlds.

Find Bec at:

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