Review & Discussion: The Kraken King Part 7 by Meljean Brook (Iron Seas #4.7)

The Kraken King Part 7: The Kraken King and the Empress’s Eyes (Iron Seas #4.7)
Meljean Brook
Published: May 27, 2014 (Avon)
Purchase: Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Amy

Rating (out of 5): 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, Part 5 and Part 6.

It has already been a few days since Ariq and Zenobia arrived back in the Red City and crossed the wall. Still Ariq waits for a chance to speak with the Empress and to hear word about Krakentown. He fears for the worst and decides he may have to leave for Krakentown himself to see what has happened. Even though this may ruin his chances of meeting with the Empress, Ariq see no other way.

Zenobia, too, has been waiting with Ariq through the dread of no news. A visit from the Empress’s Guard only drives home the point that if Ariq has to leave she would not be safe without him, and she prepares herself to depart when the time comes. Problems arise when Ariq and Zenobia don’t exactly see eye to eye on the situation.

This part has to be my favorite of the series, by far. I think it has a great combination of everything. There’s sex, sweetness, action, intrigue. I was very curious to find out how Meljean Brook would introduce the Empress, and I like the way she does it. Ariq does get his audience with her, but the Empress still manages to maintain an air of mystery around her. It just further makes me wonder how much of what we learn is allusion and how much might actually be truth.

I’m not sure exactly how Ariq was expecting the negotiations to go, but one thing is for certain, the Empress wants the location of Skybreaker just as much as the rebels do. The difference is the Empress is more than willing to take extreme measures to get the information out of The Kraken King.

Ariq and Zenobia finally work through all of their misconceptions about what the other may, or may not, be feeling in their relationship. At the very least, the things they worry about pale in comparison to the danger they face in this installment. Ariq and Zenobia find out just how far they are willing to go for the other, and what sacrifices mean in order to protect the ones that you love. This does end on a pretty significant cliffhanger. Everything comes down to The Kraken King and the Greatest Adventure.

DISCUSSION

1. What extreme measures would you take in order to ensure the safety of those you love, even if it means their anger towards you?
2. In this part it was mentioned a few times how much Zenobia has changed since the beginning of her journey. We also get specific information about what she went through with her mother. With all of this in mind, what is your impression of the ways Zenobia has changed?

Sexual content: Sex