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Book Review of Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, Bk 1)

Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, Bk 1)
Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, Bk 1)
Author: Bec McMaster
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
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Honoria's father was a scientist. She helped him with his experiments. When he is murdered, she flees with her younger siblings (Lena and Charlie). The Duke of Vickers was the father's employer/sponsor and he puts a bounty on the family's head. Honoria finds housing in the rookery and employment and they scrap by. When her presence comes to the attention of Blade, he is the gang leader of one of the strongest gangs, she and Blade come to an agreement. He will protect her family and she will teach him out to properly speak (dialects/diction are her thing). Blade also has a history with Vickers and his end goal is to take him out if he can. He wants revenge.
It took time for me to figure out the world. It's an alternate steam-punkish version of London. The "blue bloods" are large and in charge. They need blood to survive, are stronger/faster. It's regulated who can be turned and take the blood rites. It's called the craving virus (CV). It's also mostly men only. As they age, the CV levels elevate and once reached a certain level they will enter "the fade" and become a vampire. A vampire is something to be feared (a mindless killing machine that is hard to kill) and they are beheaded and burned when they enter "the fade."
The romance was a slow-burn, but oh so sweet. It made sense with Blade and Honoria's history. There are also side stories about Charlie and why the vaccine didn't work and did something else. (Honoria's father was working on a vaccine to protect those from being turned against their will and a hope to eventually eradicate the virus). Honoria was also vaccinated and Blade gets a side effect from feeding off of her. Excellent action and the big bad gets his just deserts.
Next story is Will's (werewolf) and Lena's (Honoria's sister). I do have the novella Tarnished Knight with Esme (Blade's housekeeper) and John "Rip" (one of Blade's men), so I will read that first.