Review & Discussion: The Kraken King Part 6 by Meljean Brook (Iron Seas #4.6)

The Kraken King Part 6: The Kraken King and the Crumbling Walls (Iron Seas #4.6)
Meljean Brook
Published: May 20, 2014 (Avon)
Purchase: Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Amy

Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars

Note from Chelsea/VBC: The Kraken King is being published as a serial with a new part offered each week. We’re such super fans of Meljean Brook’s Iron Seas series that we decided to review this as a read along. So each week you’ll get Amy’s take on the latest part and we’ll discuss it in the comments. Catch up with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.

Part 6 finds Ariq and Zenobia traveling back to the Red City in hopes of being able to talk someone into calling off the troops on their way to Krakentown and other surrounding areas. Ariq is hoping to appeal to the Empress directly, unfortunately no one just demands an audience with the Empress. So Ariq must bide his time.

So what, you ask, will Zenobia and Ariq find to do while ‘biding their time’? As if I need to say. The sexual tension between Ariq and Zenobia has been rising, well, ever since the beginning of the story, but really things began heating up in Part 4 just before they were kidnapped.

There is time spent on other things in The Kraken King and the Crumbling Walls – all just a ploy to make the readers wait even more! Honestly, though, it’s a good thing that time is spent with Zenobia and Ariq getting to know one another. In Ariq’s mind they are married. As we’ve been reminded time and again, they’ve only known each other for about two weeks. It’s natural to think that Zenobia would have some reservations. I like the time taken to learn about each other’s pasts, their families and things they care for. There is an ease between Ariq and Zenobia in these conversations. Sometimes I prefer interactions like this more than a bedroom scene.

Not only has Meljean Brook built up the sex for the readers, but I would say Ariq has built it up more for Zenobia. He’s promised that she will need at least “three days in bed to recover” afterwards. I don’t know about Zenobia, but after reading, I needed three days of recovery! Sometimes the buildup of something is better than the payoff, but Meljean Brook excels at both. Still, with all the happenings going on in the bedroom there is very little emphasis placed on moving the story forward in any other way.

Ariq’s business takes him over the wall in this part, with Zenobia, Mara and Cooper accompanying. Through this we get a little introduction into the Empress’s domain. The impression that the Empress has eyes everywhere is made blatantly clear and rather eerie. Exactly what the Empress “sees” I think will be something that we learn in The Kraken King and the Empress’s Eyes. I’m actually looking forward to finally meeting this Empress we’ve heard a lot about but not yet been introduced.

DISCUSSION

1. There’s a lot of reference to vulnerabilities in this part. Ariq and Zenobia both say they are vulnerable to each other. Are vulnerabilities a bad thing, or like fear, can they be used as a motivation to strengthen?
2. Do you think the Ariq and Zenobia truly understand one another enough at this point? Like in the beginning of the story, do you think there are any other misunderstandings they can have in regards to one another?

Sexual content: Sex –finally!