Of Silk and Steam

Last Updated on December 30, 2022 by ThoughtsStained

The only negative thing about this book was that I waited so long to read it.
Which, is sorta in a compliment in and of itself. I didn’t want the series to end, so I just put off reading the last book. But then again, I’m kicking myself. I didn’t realize that Bec McMaster is a literal powerhouse. She’s published books from four different series since I discovered her with this London Steampunk series. Luckily, all of them have piqued my interest (and has infiltrated my library’s hold shelf). So why did I wait so long to read Of Silk and Steam?

Especially when it was just so freakin’ good?

Table of Contents

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Book Info

Publication Info

Content Warnings

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.

On the Page

Referenced

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Content warnings are written up by me, unless specified. Subject to being an incomplete list, though guided by referencing this list and trying to highlight as many as I can identify.

Book Depository

IndieBound

Raven Bookstore

Review

Likes

It took a little warming up, to remember exactly what was going on with the overarching plot, but to finally see Leo and Mina come together was really rewarding. Mina was such a strong character who I couldn’t help but admire and Leo? Well, Leo had everything that I love to read about when I read a romance, because I want to fall in love, too. And with his flirtatious nature, strong qualities, stubbornness and surprising vulnerability, it was hard not to.
I think my favorite aspect of this entire series is the worldbuilding. McMaster is one of the first writers to truly get me into steampunk and she does it flawlessly. I also loved seeing so many of my favorite characters from the previous books in the series within this one, particularly Blade, Honoria and Will. It was like returning home after being gone on a very, very long holiday. (Also, that last chapter/epilogue!? *melts into happy feelings forever*).
I’m also always blown away with how romance writers, especially ones like McMaster, get me so damn invested in these characters. There was a point, within Of Silk and Steam, where I literally started flipping through pages trying to see how long it’d take before [spoiler] was resolved, because I didn’t want [spoiler] to continue believing [spoiler] and continue holding it against [spoiler]. I had to put the book down and tell myself to just read it and then I’d find out if their budding relationship can be salvaged or not.

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Rating

Needless to say, I’m glad I finally read this book. It was a great way to wrap up the series. Plus, it was lovely to return a world that I fell in love with so deeply and was so curious about. It’s kinda sad, to not be part of this world anymore.

(Although her Blue Blood Conspiracy Series apparently picks up a couple years after this one. I just found that out doing a little fact checking for this post. So guess who is completely and utterly jazzed about that!?!)

I’m super excited to continue getting a chance to read McMaster’s work through her other series. If you enjoy steamy romance with three-dimensional characters who you fall in love with, definitely give this author a read.

A custom artowrk signature that reads, "Onward to Adventure, Nicole" with a feathered quill and inkpot bordering it.

Trackbacks

Top Ten Tuesday: Lamenting Over Not Enough Time (Or, My Endless TBR List) – Thoughts Stained With Ink says:

September 25, 2018 at 10:04 am

[…] McMaster, apparently: I absolutely adored McMaster’s London Steampunk quintet. They were wonderful romances that I usually read in one sitting and I just couldn’t get enough of them. So when I found out […]