Yasmeen and Archimedes, mercenary and adventurer, are
settling into married life and finding a new balance while hoping to protect
Yasmeen’s essential, ruthless reputation.
An old friend of Archimedes approaches – he wants help to
rescue his brother from Eden; the impenetrable flying city that enslaves any it
comes across. It’s an impossible mission – but the man will use any means in
his power to force Yasmeen and Archimedes to help him
Probably not the wisest thing the man has ever done
I love the romance in this book – and how often do I say
that? I’m normally not a fan of books with heavy romance elements.
Yasmeen and Archimedes love for each other is clear on
every page, I don’t think I’ve read many books that convinced me how completely
in love the main characters are. Mainly, because it shows me why. Not by long
monologues or eyes meeting over a crowded room or descriptions of how very hot
the other is (though we have elements of all), but by them simply thinking and
caring for each other. Of them taking the time to make the other happy, to care
for their feelings, to understand each other, to comfort each other, to spend
time thinking of ways to make the other smile. They trust each other and show
that trust, they’re sure to realise where the other’s limits and worries are,
they give each other both the space and the support each needs
They are in love and it shows because they behave like people who care about each other. They show it, they don’t just say it. It’s clear in every interaction and the time and energy they devote to each other. It’s a perfect romance.
The plot adds a great foundation for Zenobia in the
future (and explains some of the elements of Kraken King I was unsure on, like why she’s such a kidnap victim)
and I love how both Archimedes and Yasmeen react to the plot – they’re good
people, but they’re not fools. Your brother is tragically held prisoner
somewhere that enslaves people and is nearly impregnable? Well, good luck with
that – buh-bye. Because it’s not just their lives at risk – they have a crew
they’re responsible for and the crew matters, they’re people, not just random
background figures to be sacrificed at a whim
The action is fun, the writing exciting and well paced –
it all hits the right notes. And all of this in this world I love – with its
different map and steampunk and well thought out political machinations and
problems all displayed with lots of little hints and references – like the need
to escort pilgrims to Mecca through Horde territory, or the New World colonies
unwillingness to allow people with nano-agents into their lands. This all comes
with a lot of deep character development – such as how both Longcock and
Archimedes reacted differently when freed from the Horde’s mind controlling
towers. There’s lots of talk of freedom and tyranny and the systems that are
arising as the Horde empire loses its grasp of the edges
The book is also hilariously funny which is always a
plus. Honestly, I could read a book full of nothing but Zenobia’s passive
aggressive letters to her brother.
Yasmeen is an excellent strong female character – not only
the most deadly woman there, but caring, loyal determined and firmly not in
need of rescue – and she’s not alone; her crew has other women including her
Quartermaster. Yasmeen is a POC as are some of her crew. We have Scarsdale have
a cameo as a gay man, but he’s not there much and largely to say how he’s
marrying a woman.
There’s also a continued passing examination of class –
in a world where people are regularly modified for various jobs, we see how
they’ve been turned into machines, tools, objects and, in some cases, it’s been
so terribly and poorly done it’s left the most vulnerable with horrible
disfigurement and painful cybernetic grafts – and when it goes wrong these
people are just discarded.
It’s another excellent addition to this series and
reminds me why I’m really happy I continued with it. The world is rich, the
characters amazing and a range of issues are touched on to fit with the deep
and broad world. All with a fun, fast writing style and a heavy dollop of
humour.
