I really enjoy the Iron Seas books and this one is no exception. In fact I declare it my favourite thus far!

I waited for the complete collection rather than reading them in the original 8 part serial releases as I was looking forward to Zenobia's story and really wanted to crack through it rather than wait for the next part and I was not disappointed!!

You don't need to read the other three novels and short stories prior to this one however there are a few characters (the lead, Zenobia Fox for example) who have appeared in the Iron Seas series already. Being a stickler for reading books in order I would suggest you do so. Saying that The Kraken King is a great gateway book to the Iron Seas series and to Steampunk novels in general.

Zenobia Fox, author of her brother's (Archamedies Fox) and Captain Corsair's (her sister-in-law) adventure tails, is off to Australia as her friends companion. She was only supposed to witness adventure from a distance to inspire future stories however Zenobia attracts danger and she is quickly caught up in marauder attacks, political intrigue, ransom demands, kidnapping and torture all the while falling in love with a strong ex-rebel military commander now Governor of a settlement, Ariq, also known as The Kraken King.

There is a great mix of action, wit, exposition, romance and humour surrounded by a well developed history. Meljean Brook's alternative history mixed with the Steampunk scientific and technological advancements are thorough and very different to other novels within this genre which is reason enough for me to recommend the Iron Seas series. I also love how Meljean Brooks does not over-explain the history as too much exposition can take away from the story and often when it is done the reader can be made to feel dumb. Instead it is drip fed or presented in a way to suggest that this is the world, this is the history, this is how and why things are done and they way things are, you as the outsider/reader must deal with it - I love that!

The characters are well developed - yes they are extraordinary (they wouldn't have stories written about them if they weren't) but also flawed individuals. These flaws add to the dynamic of the building relationship between Zenobia and Ariq as well as side characters such as Helene and Taka. Mara and Cooper, Zenobia's bodyguards make nice additions to the cast and I enjoyed their part and would like to read a story of how they got together.

I enjoyed Zenobia and Ariq's building relationship and had my fingers crossed from the beginning - you genuinely want them to be together and be happy. The are very much a couple who work and thrive on each other's differences. Their relationship did not burden the story and the marauder attack problem and subsequent issues arising from it is in no way impeded by the romance aspect of the book. They instead work hand-in-hand as story and plot devices.

I love this book. I love this series.