In the third book in the London Steampunk series, Rosalind Hucker is the humanist revolutionary known only as Mercury, and she’s willing to do anything to fight for the rights of humans in London. After she’s falsely blamed for an act of terrorism, she and her outlaw band of freedom fighters have gone into hiding. While on a mission aboveground, she runs afoul with her greatest adversary and the only man worthy enough to revive her frozen heart.
Sir Jasper Lynch, Guild Master of the Nighthawks (the police force that patrols the city), has only three weeks left to find and capture Mercury, or he will be executed. He’s also a rogue blue blood (a person illegally infected with the craving virus) and has kowtowed to the Echelon (the London aristocracy of blue-bloods) for years. He finally tracks Mercury down but never expected the humanist leader to be a woman. After she seduces him and escapes, he vows not to be made a fool of again, but then he hires a new secretary at the office, not realizing that the secretary and Mercury are one and the same.
Wow! I absolutely loved these characters. Rosa is a remarkably strong woman. Whether she’s acting as the sexy kickass Mercury or the intelligent, seductive Mrs. Marberry (the secretary), she wrapped the stoic, coolheaded Lynch around her little finger. Lynch was immensely attracted to both women, and he was constantly fighting with himself and feeling guilty for each time he furthered his relationship with each woman. Though he wasn’t technically cheating on either of them, he was in his mind, and it threatened to tear him apart. Both Rosa and Lynch have tragic pasts, which shaped them into the dedicated, stubborn people they’d become.
I enjoyed the cast of secondary characters, especially Garrett and Perry, two of Lynch’s fellow Nighthawks, whose book is coming up next. Leo Barrons was awesome as always and is my favorite character throughout the series. The main characters from the previous two books didn’t play much of a role in this one, which was disappointing, but I understand why there weren’t around. I liked how this book painted the Nighthawks (whom are mostly rogue blue bloods) in a positive light since not all blue bloods are cruel and vindictive, even the ones in the Echelon.
Though the story ends with a HEA, I’m surprised there hasn’t been a mention in any of the books I’ve read so far about the differences in the H/h’s lifetime expectancies. Blue bloods are kind of like vampires and they do age, but at a slower rate. For example, Lynch has been a blue blood for 40 years, infected with the virus at age 15, so he’s technically been alive for 55 years. He looks as though he’s in his 30s. By the time Rosa grows old and dies, he’ll be middle-aged.
Anyway, Ms. McMaster’s writing is strong and concise with enough description that doesn’t overpower the plot. There are some fragment sentences, but each fragment is actually a continuation of the previous sentence. There aren’t many sex scenes in this series (all occurring in the second half of the books), but sexual tension sparks hot between the H/h in each story.
5 Stars

Disclaimer – I borrowed this ebook from the library. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
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Gah I love this series!!! ( )

I think I’m in love with Sir Jasper Lynch! He’s so honorable and controlled and not someone who would usually be easily played by a woman but that is exactly what Rosalind does to him. I was so mad at her for most of the book because I liked Jasper so much and I knew how hurt he would be when he found out. He’d been hurt before and a second hurt could destroy him.

We’ve seen glances of Sir Jasper Lynch, Master of the Guild of Nighthawks (the police force of London) in previous books in the series and he has always been reasonable and fair. He doesn’t seem arrogant like the rest of the blue bloods in London. Now, we get an in-depth look at him.

The prince consort, an evil and cruel man who uses his power to gain more power by nefarious means, has ordered Lynch to find the leader of the humanists, Mercury, who is believed to have bombed the Ivory Tower while the Echelon (the blue bloods in power over London) and the Norwegian Verwulfen were signing a treaty. If he fails to capture Mercury within three weeks, he will be executed.

Lynch has put all of his resources into finding Mercury but now has to deal with a rash of murders happening around London. Something is turning blue bloods into monsters who turn on their households and kill everyone including servants. They rip them apart as if they have turned into vampires. All blue bloods live with the possibility of turning into vampires if their CV blood levels rise to above a certain percent since blue bloods were once regular humans who had been infected with the craving virus which requires them to drink blood in order to survive. Only men from the finest of blood lines are allowed to be infected because the virus makes them stronger and faster with enhanced hearing, smell and eyesight than regular humans. At the age of fifteen, they go through their blood rites which turns them into a blue blood. Accidents happen and others become infected too. Those infected by accident are considered rogues. If they are strong enough, they get a choice to either serve in the Nighthawks which Sir Jasper Lynch started over 40 years ago or be a Coldrush Guard, who protect the Echelon and the Ivory Tower or be put to death. Almost all women who are infected are executed. Eventually, all blue bloods could turn into a mindless vampire if the CV blood levels get to high. All blue bloods levels are monitored. When a blue blood starts turning into a vampire, an ax is sent for and they are beheaded. None of the men murdering their households have high CV levels though. The only common denominator in all of the households is a sickly sweet odor and small metal balls. Lynch has to find out what is causing these men to mad and find Mercury.

Rosalind is Mercury. She is the leader of the humanists but she had nothing to with the bombing of the Ivory Tower. In fact, she tried to stop it when she found out. That is why she was at the Ivory Tower that day but she got there too late. She was trying to save her brother who was tricked into carrying the device which was disguised as a mechanical verwulfen into the tower. Now, her brother is missing and she needs to find him. She decides to infiltrate the Nighthawks to see if her brother was arrested or killed in the bombing by becoming Sir Jasper Lynch’s personal secretary. She has had a run-in with Lynch before but it was while disguised as Mercury in a mask. He saw her mechanical hand so she has to cover it with gloves…good thing gloves are the height of fashion and showing one’s hands is akin to showing a breast in blue blood society. She becomes Mrs. Rosa Marberry, a widow, so that she can be Lynch’s secretary.

It’s a dangerous game she is playing. She seduces Lynch both as Mercury and Mrs. Marberry. He is conflicted and attracted to both which is strange for him because he never falls for women…not since he was a teenager and was hurt by one. He knows he can’t have either woman though because he knows, in the end, he will not turn over Mercury to the Echelon council and therefore will forfeit his own life. It was very heartbreaking knowing this while reading the book. Rosalind has no idea though.

She does know that Mordecai, a mech, is behind the bombing. Mechs are humans who have lost a limb and have had them replaced with mechanical parts. In exchange for the parts, they are enslaved for a certain amount of time, usually 15 years, working for the Echelon in the metal yards or enclaves. People consider Mechs the lowest form of beings. Rosalind was working with some of the mechs when some of them started defying her orders and making their own plans. Mordacai was one of them. Now, she has seen Mordacai outside one of the houses where a blue blood slaughtered his family. She believes he has something to do with why blue bloods are turning into monsters and she discovers he is planning a mass murder but has no idea when or where but she has to stop it.

Once again, I couldn’t put this book down. I love this series. I wish some of the leading characters from the previous books would have made an appearance. Lena had a brief appearance but none of the others like Blade or Will were in the book. Leo Barrons was in it though and I’m sure he will have a book of his own in this series…at least, I hope.
I’ve already started reading the next book.

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2.5 stars rounded up. This plot is a stretch. The hidden identity aspect passed the point of buyability *long* before it resolved, and several other smaller plot points and character choices left me scratching my head as well. It was kind of tiring for me to repeatedly remind myself to just go along with it. But I think I probably care more about stories 'holding water' than the average reader, so it might not matter so much to others. ( )

Well, it is back to the London Steampunk world of Bec McMaster. This series is dark, steamy, and dangerous. The Echelon, which is England's nobility and ruling class, is comprised of vampires. Humans have it rough, providing for the bluebloods. And some humans have machine parts that replace or enhance their flesh bodies. Some humans are getting tired of supporting the Echelon with their blood, sweat, and tears (the former is literal). It has the feeling of the buildup of the French Revolution.

Enter one of the leaders of the Humanist faction. Opposing her is the head of the Nighthawks, a police force that enforces Echelon policy. Let the sparks begin!

I'd advise starting this series with the first book if you want to read sexy steampunk. And yes, I have the next book in the series to read in the future. ( )