Book Shelf: Of Silk and Steam (London Steampunk #5) 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. 

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Of Silk and Steam is the fifth and final novel in the London Steampunk series by Bec McMaster and brings to a close this tantalizing and sensual saga with excitement, fervor and action as our beloved characters finally take a stand against their overbearing monarch.

When her beloved father died Lady Armina Duval swore revenge on the man she deemed responsible. As he was out of her grasp, Mina instead set her sights on his charming and seductive heir, Leo Barrons. As one of the few female blue bloods in existence, Mina has protected herself thanks to the cold, icy veneer she cultivates and no one has dared attempt to breach it….until Barrons. Leo Barrons has long coveted Mina. The snippets of fire he glimpses under her mask tempt him like nothing else and he is determined to discover the woman lurking within. Leo knows Mina is hiding something but when she discovers the truth about his true paternity, the revelation brings about the means for Mina finally to finally bring Leo down. Her desire to destroy his father has been so strong for so long, but are the feelings that Leo stirs within her more important than her vengeance? Will this duchess take a chance on love or will she and Leo lose their lives in the fight against the prince consort before she has a chance to find out?

London Steampunk has finally come to an end….and in what spectacular fashion! Engrossing, passionate and evocative, Of Silk and Steam is another lush romance from Bec McMaster that brings to a close what has been a thrilling series from start to finish. Proving that she knows what she’s doing, McMaster has continued to beautifully develop and explore her Victorian steampunk world with each novel and brought to life different personalities and characters readers can’t help but love.

As this final instalment concludes things, blue bloods Mina and Leo are front and centre as they explore the passionate desire that burns between them. Enemies by circumstances and lovers by choice, Mina and Leo were wonderful to read about and finally sink my teeth into. I’ve wanted to know more about them since the very first novel saw them exchange terse sentences that hinted at a past and Of Silk and Steam is the opportunity to finally discover just what exactly that is.

As one of only a few female blue bloods in existence, Mina has expectedly had to fight to prove she deserved her place in a male driven society but in Of Silk and Steam we finally discover some of the many secrets she has been hiding. I did like Mina. She’s a strong, capable woman but it was lovely seeing her let down her guards too as she gave into the desire she felt for Leo that she tried so hard to fight—there were softer sides to her that shone though.

I’ve loved Leo since we first met him and discovered he was Honoria’s brother. Over the series as he has become more and more involved in the storyline I have become more and more fascinated by discovering what lurks within his heart and heard. It was very satisfying finally seeing him get the girl. The fact that Leo had wanted Mina from the beginning was delightful, as was seeing him finally pursue her, even if she was reluctant—though she certainly did love the chase.

Of Silk and Steam builds to an epic second half of the novel as Blade, Will, Lena, Lynch, Rosalyn, Garrett, Rip, Charlie, Lark, Leo, Mina and their allies finally take their fight to the prince consort in order to overthrow his rule. So much of the series has been building towards this moment that it was surreal to finally see it come to pass. McMaster also manages to include moments of romance, humour and sweetness as the novel concludes.

With new lives---we’re talking a baby here--- and endless possibilities for the characters, Of Silk and Steam concludes beautifully and ends the series well. Thank goodness Bec McMaster decided to write a spin-off series however as there are still so many characters I want to read about; Charlie, Lark, Brynes, Anne, Ingrid, Kincaid….I plan to start that series as soon as possible so I can get lost in new branches of this stunning world!

Rating:
Source: Bought by me
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Paperback
Release Date: March 3rd 2015
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A fantastic conclusion to this series. Bec McMaster is fabulous!