• Kiss of Steel

  • London Steampunk, Book 1
  • By: Bec McMaster
  • Narrated by: Alison Larkin
  • Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (587 ratings)

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Kiss of Steel

By: Bec McMaster
Narrated by: Alison Larkin
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Publisher's summary

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price? Blade is known as the master of the rookeries - no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood craving he's been quicker, stronger, almost immortal. When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel - or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

©2012 Bec McMaster (P)2013 Tantor

What listeners say about Kiss of Steel

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • B
  • 11-13-14

Unexpected delight

What did you love best about Kiss of Steel?

I purchased this audiobook as part of a 3 for 2 paranormal sale and needed a third title. I didn't know what to expect and I wasn't familiar with the author, Bec McMaster, or this series, but I am glad I picked it! Part historical romance, part paranormal romance, with the tiniest splash of steam punk thrown in, Kiss of Steel had me hooked within the first fifteen minutes. The narration was great, the sex scenes were erotic without being cheesy, and the author's take on vampires was interesting.

What did you like best about this story?

I think Alison Larkin's narration made this book for me. She sounds like she could have been reading Jane Austen, but instead she was narrating explicit paranormal sex scenes set in Victorian London.

What does Alison Larkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I don't know if I would have been able to get into reading the book like I got into listening to it. The author jumped right into her "London Steampunk" world with very little explanation. It was a bit difficult to figure out the mythology and terminology at first, but the narration kept the story interesting enough to stick with it.

Any additional comments?

First, the steampunk elements are more of an afterthought, so if that's what you're looking for, then this isn't your book. Second, the romance is apparent from the beginning, but there is a long build-up to first sex scene so, again, if that's what you're looking for... (having said that, the sex is fairly steady for the last half of the book). Last, while I loved Alison Larkin's narration in general, there were times that her voice for Blade bordered on cartoonish and that was a little bit distracting. Luckily, the author relies on descriptive narration more than dialogue, so this was only rarely an issue for me.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Kd
  • 04-16-16

Good paranormal mystery, romance balance

This story is a romance but most certainly not highly sexual., at least not highly in the sense of how much sex occurs in the story. There is kissing, a small amount, but the first sex act doesn’t' occur until about halfway through the 11+ hour story. And that first act was just "stimulation" of Honoria. Then the second sex act doesn't occur until there's about 2.5 hours left in the story. It was the first act of intercourse. After that one, intercourse occurred again. But the story was nearing the end. Admittedly, there is a bit of sensual detail during these 3 sex acts; they weren't brief but also not drawn out. But there's also no explicit sexual language beyond "cock" and "wetness," if you want to call that explicit, which I don't, not hardly.
The delay in Honoria and Blade getting together made the story super yummy b/c I got a chance to see the relationship develop, which was not easy. Honoria and Blade are different in significant ways, which made them unlikely friends, much less lovers. But the attraction was always simmering, and trust was desired by both.

So there was no focus on sex, though there was a focus on the romance. But it was balanced with a bit of a mystery. And the mystery's outcome was not completely obvious, which was great. That, along with the good narration and good, basic writing, is what made this purchase a good one. It was my first steampunk tale, but it won't be my last. I enjoyed this one. Since I buy historical romances, this tale fit well alongside that genre for me. I also buy paranormal romances, and this tale had an aspect of that too. The vampiric and werewolf aspects were novel, however. Since this was my first steampunk tale, the take on those paranormal beings was, indeed, novel to me. Another plus in this story was that Honoria's being a virgin was not the focus in the story nor of her lover's. Additionally, I loved that Honoria was smart and strong, and the author focused on that and not her physical beauty. It was a wonderful change.

It wasn't an easy story, a light and fluffy story. But there was also no unnecessary angst or manufactured conflict. It all flowed naturally from the telling and the development of the tale.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Paranormal Historical Romance

Kiss of Steel is an erotic historical paranormal (steampunk it really isn't) story that differs in the genre a bit because the hero isn't an aristocrat: he is pretty much a street rat vampire gang leader on the wrong side of town (though with the prerequisite heart of gold, of course). Very graphic sex is interspersed with a mystery that will be solved at the conclusive end. Although there are other books in this world, this is a stand alone.

Honoria Todd lives in disgrace in a disreputable part of London after her father is killed in the line of researching vampires. The country is ruled by the bluebloods - creatures who were infected with a virus (brought back with a "lost Continent' type of explorer) and who exist on blood. Her father's research may prove key to understanding the virus - but all Honoria has left is her sister, her brother, and her father's diaries. Desperate, out of money, she makes a blood bargain to be a thrall with a local gang lord - a blue blood himself despite not being of aristocratic stock. Then a rogue vampire starts murdering and the murders seem to all link back to Honoria. Can she and Blade, her vampire lover, save her family as well as her own skin from both the rogue vampire and the bluebloods?

While I liked the book, I found I just wasn't invested in it. It was decently written, the plot solid, and certainly no major fault can be found overall. But I found I just wasn't interested in the main character, her lover Blade, or nearly any of the other characters. Blade was a bit too good to be true, Honoria too missish (which was appropriate for the era, however), and the mystery just didn't seem get very interesting. I think if more time had been devoted to the characters and plot rather than various sex or near sex scenes, it would have been more immediate. The last quarter of the book was pretty much sex scenes, which are fine for others but really a bit too much for me (I'd rather go to an erotic title for that much intercourse).

So although I rate this 3 stars, it really wasn't a terrible book. And certainly it wasn't the average historical romance. But it just never really hooked me into the action and characters. And certainly it isn't steampunk.

I listened to an Audible version of this book. Although the narrator did a decent job, I think she might have overdone the intonations, making Honoria seem girlie and Blade a bit too guttery?

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

New Narrator, Please!

Storyline had potential but fell miles short of it. The narrator did a horrible job with the male voices. I hate the book mostly because of the narrator.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Horrible narration but good book

If you could sum up Kiss of Steel in three words, what would they be?

Steamy, Fresh, and Engaging

What did you like best about this story?

Blade, very nice take on the bad boy gutter rat but lovable misunderstood Hero.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Alison Larkin?

Simon Prebble

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Blade?! LOL

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Book One of the London Steampunk series.

Book One of the London Steampunk series.

This review is for the narration:

The narrator made this story a six star rating for me. She is fantastic and goes above and beyond. I can't imagine reading the print copy after hearing the audio version.

Blade and Honoria both have to overcome numerous complications throughout the story. They both have pasts that are catching up with them, but together they have a chance to make a future.

I highly recommend this audiobook/story to anyone at all.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

it was just okay.

This book was just okay to me. I think the author could have explained the creatures a bit clearer, they were confusing at times. The sex was okay, not the best. Not enough dialog for me, more descriptions that actual talking. The Heroine, Honoria was to wimpy for me too. I don't plan on reading the next installment of this series, it was not good enough.
The narrator did a decent job.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Pleasantly surprised.

I found this to be a good mix of steampunk, paranormal, romance and action. That's really hard to accomplish. Some books one or more of those is lacking, but this was a very nice blend.

I have already purchased the next in this series.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Razor’s sting - bloody good paranormal

I suspect I might elevate this to five stars with a different narrator. While I like Larkin’s story narration,
I feel like her dialogue for females makes them all sound like breathy tweens and her men blend together. Worse, her male voicing lacks that sexiness that brings chemistry to the romance side of these books. I found a similar problem with the Iron Seas series, which I loved with the original narrator but only tolerated when Larkin took over. Even with Larkin narrating, however, the writing is strong enough to deliver a great story with equal parts paranormal horror, steampunk and romance. **the author’s sequel Blue Blood Conspiracy series has a narrator I like better and I highly recommend that series.

Paranormal:
On the paranormal side, this felt a little like an Underworld prequel, with human thralls, blood factories, and darkly delicious bloodletting. Like the best of classic vampire fare, this book manages to blend sensuality and horror, avoiding the dreaded Twilight style pablum.

Steampunk:
Thankfully, there’s more story than simply vamps vs weres. The nature of vampirism is more nuanced and blends quite well with the steampunk aesthetic. Those wishing for full steampunk will be disappointed as there’s nary a dirigible or automaton in sight. However, there are men with mechanical arms, enhanced Nighthawk guards, and the steampunk spirit of mad science and experimentation.

Romance:
The romance gives good smolder until three satisfying, not cozy but not too crass, get togethers in the second half. There’s a lot of bunching of skirts, wrapping hands on hair, and alpha male possessiveness.

Depending on what ratio of romance to steampunk you prefer, I recommend:
⚙️Darkest London series (better romance with strong ladies, sexy gents and more monster variety. the steampunk is more on the mad-science vs dirigible end)
⚙️Iron Seas series (still strong romance, but better steampunk adventure and horror, with tech-zombies, automatons, and yes, dirigibles! - I recommend the first two books)
⚙️Immortal Empire trilogy (romance takes a back seat to highly original goblin paranormal. This is horror, cheek, and steampunk chic - meaning emphasis is on the steampunk look and mad-science)
⚙️Steamborn series (dystopian steampunk with a fabulous monster bug setting, any romance is a side dish to the YA adventure- books 1-3 are available in an omnibus)
⚙️Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher (romance is merely an ingredient in this outstanding swashbuckling steampunk adventure. It’s Masters & Commander in the air, but with a good story and engaging characters to boot. Oh, and a talking cat. A five star favorite.
⚙️Romulus Buckle (what romance? This is all about getting to dirigibles and steampunk battles with maximum anime camp. When you care more about flash and panache than finesse)

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Blue Blood has a whole new meaning.

I really enjoyed this book. I knew this book was steampunk but I didn't realize it was also paranormal to include vampires and werewolves. There was enough of a twist in the vampire lore that it felt fresh and not the same old same old. It was also sexy enough without having an overabundance of sex in the book. I will be getting the next book and listening to it soon. I have had this book in my library for some time, I wish I had listen to it earlier. I heard some complain about the narrator, I believe she does a fairly good job. I think because she has an English accent is what people don't like about it. But consider this is basically a regency romance with steampunk and mystery she fits the storyline.

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2 people found this helpful